Brodhead
Independent Register 608•897•2193
•
SHOPPING NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016
922 W. EXCHANGE STREET, BRODHEAD, WI 53520
American Pickers coming to Wisconsin .......................................... 3 Summer school feeds creativity ............................................. 5 Archery tournament beginning this weekend .....................................9
Farmers offered opportunity to recycle agriculture plastics Wisconsin dairy and livestock farms are using silo bags, bunkers, and wrapped bales at a dramatically increased rate over the last decade. Each of these tools relies on low-density polyethylene, a plastic film that provides a low-cost method for storing high-quality forages. It’s estimated that over 55 million pounds of LDPE thermoplastic is sold annually to Wisconsin farmer. While agriculture plastics are increasingly popular, their disposal has become a big issue on many farms. A statewide survey conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 2015 reported that about two-thirds of farmers use landfills for disposing their used agriculture plastic. The second most common method of disposal is burning, at 30 percent, with 10 percent of respondents reporting that they recycle the plastic. More than 1,500 farms and greenhouses around Wisconsin participated in the survey. Burning agriculture plastic is illegal and releases toxic and potentially cancer-causing chemicals such as dioxins and furans into the air. These toxins can be inhaled by humans and animals and are deposited in soil and surface water. Residue from burning can also contaminate the soil and groundwater and enter the human
food chain through crops and livestock. Moreover, unburned portions of plastic become litter on the ground, with larger piles creating breeding grounds and habitats for mosquitoes. The survey indicates that 85 percent of farmers are willing to haul their plastic to a collection site for recycling. Past agriculture plastic collection programs in Green County have confirmed that many farmers will drive up to 30 miles to recycle their plastic if there is no disposal charge. Green County farmers have a lot of used agriculture plastic on their lands, and most prefer to see it recycled versus burning it or paying up to $1,500 per year to dispose of it in landfills. So why do Wisconsin farmers not recycle more agriculture plastic? The major challenge in recycling agriculture plastic is transporting it from the farm to a collection facility for baling. Green County started recycling agriculture plastics in 2014 by having spring and fall collections during which farmers could dispose of their used agriculture plastic free of charge by hauling it to a local landfill. Over the past two years, the county has collected more than 650,000 pounds of used agriculture plastic and recently expanded its collection program to accept this type of
COURTESY PHOTO Brodhead Independent-Register
Silo bags, bunker covers, and bale wraps may be recycled through a new program in Wisconsin.
waste every Wednesday from any area farmers willing to haul it to the collection facility. Green County accepts only No. 4 plastic (from the resin identifica-
tion code) from silo bags, bunker covers, greenhouse covers, drip tape, and bale wraps. Plastic twine, mesh bale wraps, plastic jugs, bunker covers with scrim nylon, and
Pierce Home Furnishings
GIGANTIC INVENTORY
$
Blowout!
all other types of plastic containers are not recyclable through this program.
See RECYCLE, Page 3
0% Inte til 2 01r7est
500,000 in inventory needs to be sold to Make rooM for our new styles arriving daily!
SAVE UP TO 75% OFF In Our MaIn ShOwrOOM & ClearanCe Center
every living rooM dining rooM & bedrooM is on sale ,
NO INTEREST IF PAID IN FULL WITHIN 12 MONTHS. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a late payment
Always the Lowest Price Guaranteed!
249581