CropLife Australia, the national peak industry body for the plant science sector, is calling on both federal, state and territory governments to provide practical support for industries that are delivering real solutions towards a circular economy for agricultural plastics.
This week is National Recycling Week, celebrating the wins in improve reuse and reducing waste. With ongoing innovations, partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to stewardship, CropLife and its members are tackling the challenge of agricultural plastic waste with great support from the farming sector. The organisation says that targeted government support will be essential for the sector if it is to meaningfully contribute to Australia’s target to be a circular economy by 2030.
Australian agriculture uses approximately 82,300 tonnes of plastic annually, with just over 12 per cent currently being recycled. CropLife Australia is determined to shift this trajectory by expanding collection initiatives and advocating for greater investment in advanced recycling infrastructure. CropLife’s drumMUSTER program alone contributes nearly 50 per cent of the hard plastics recycled in agriculture.
“Plastic packaging plays an essential role in the safe transport, use, and storage of critical agricultural products such as seeds, pesticides, and other inputs,” Matthew Cossey, CEO of CropLife Australia, said.
“But we must move beyond current recycling rates if we are to address agriculture’s plastic waste challenges effectively.”
The drumMUSTER program has been operating for 26 years, collecting and recycling over 43.5 million plastic containers and diverting approximately 45,000 tonnes of plastic from landfill, with a network of over 840 collection points. CropLife will soon rollout bagMUSTER, Australia’s first industry-led, not-for-profit, collection and recycling initiative for plastic agricultural input bags.
“Programs like drumMUSTER and bagMUSTER succeed due to the support of farmers, recycling businesses, local governments, and community groups,” Mr Cossey said.
“To fully tackle agricultural plastic waste, we need enhanced support from state and federal governments. This includes targeted investment in advanced recycling technologies and initiatives addressing hard-to-reach waste streams.”
Something going on in your part of the region you think people should know about? Send us a news tip or email newsdesk@netimes.com.au.