Saturday October 11, 2025 | KAMLOOPS, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Cleanfarms and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) are launching a new pilot program to recycle bale wrap and silage bags and covers.
The program is intended to help divert agricultural plastics from being landfilled, and will support a more sustainable agricultural sector in this region, as stated in a news release on October 8 from Cleanfarms Inc.
Plastic silage bags prevent exposure of the contents oxygen, moisture and the elements.
For efficient collection for recycling, it is important that materials are properly prepared (sorting, cleaning, etc.) as only the clean and dry plastics sorted by category will be accepted. Each plastic category has its own recycler; it is important to not mix different types of plastic.
Four-year funding:
Funded by a four-year, $134,500 commitment from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, the project will run from June 2025 to December 2028.
The pilot will provide selected farms and ranches with compactors, making it easier for them to recycle bale wraps and silage bags and covers.
Large region:
The TNRD has an area of 44,449.49 sq km (17,162 sq miles), located north of Whistler and northeast of Kelowna, and reaches to the Alberta border at the northeast boundary of BC .
The region includes several municipalities: Kamloops, Merritt, Chase, Clearwater, Logan Lake, Barriere, Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Clinton, Sun Peaks, and Lytton.
There are also numerous unincorporated areas in TNRD and 10 electoral areas.
It is a region of BC with significant agricultural activity and more than 60 provincial parks.
Targeted innovation:
“This pilot is another example that demonstrates how targeted innovation creates effective recycling solutions for the agricultural community in British Columbia,” said Barry Friesen, Executive Director at Cleanfarms.
“We are excited to see the impact of these compactors in the Thompson-Nicola region. This initiative makes it significantly easier and more efficient for our farmers and ranchers to store and transport bulky materials for recycling,” said Adriana Mailloux, TNRD Manager of Solid Waste & Recycling.
Managing the recycling:
Cleanfarms will connect the compacted materials with end markets for recycling.
The program is designed to expand to more farms and ranches over the four-year period. Interested producers are invited to contact the TNRD to express their interest.
Other regional projects:
This pilot program through Cleanfarms complements existing recycling efforts in the Fraser Valley and Peace River regional districts, demonstrating a growing commitment to environmental stewardship across British Columbia.
This stewardship also includes unwanted pesticides & livestock/equine medications collection events, which are next available for farmers in the BC Peace Region on October 14–16, 2025.
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NEWS SECTIONS: DISPOSAL and RECYCLING | AGRICULTURE