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McLeod County looks at how to cope with growing ag plastic issue

The use of “ag plastic” and plastic “boat wrap” is growing in leaps and bounds, but collecting for process and recycling is not keeping pace.
Wayne Gjerde of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency estimated that a minimum of 7 millions of ag plastic is generated in Minnesota each year, based on 15 to 20 pounds being generated per dairy cow (there are 460,000 head of dairy cows in the state).
And that number is conservative, because it doesn’t include feedlots nor plastic used for such thing as covering hay bales.
“That number is probably actually at 10 million or more pounds per year,” said Gjerded.
McLeod County is currently processing about 150 tons per year.
McLeod County hosted its second “ag plastic” forum June 29, and participants from all over the state heard that McLeod County would like to do more recycling of the plastic — but it comes with a cost.
Currently, McLeod County’s materials recycling facility (MRF) is one of a few in the state that will take the material, which it collects, bales and ships out to end users. The material is made into pellets and then recycled into such products as composite decking, garbage bags and other items.
Right now, McLeod County farmers can take their plastic to the MRF for free, and out-of-county customers are charged a tip fee.
According to McLeod County Solid Waste Coordinator Sarah Young, the tip fee and selling the material is covering the county’s processing costs.
But the MRF is “at capacity” said McLeod County Commissioner Paul Wright, and the plastic continues to pile up all over the Midwest and beyond.
In order to continue meet the continued growth in ag plastics and boat wrap, McLeod County would have to erect a building to store it until it can be process, buy another baler, and buy associated heavy equipment.
The price that comes with that is just over $1 million, Wright said.
Young said the county qualifies for a $600,000 grant from the pollution control agency to help toward the costs. But that still leaves about $500,000.

For more, see the July 6 print edition of The Chronicle.