Silage Wrap Recycling Collection in Tooma a Success

Published on 12 November 2019

Valmar Staff helping to collect the silage.jpg

Tooma residents were able to drop off their farm silage wrap for recycling at the Tooma Recreation Reserve on Wednesday 6 November in a collection trial facilitated by Snowy Valleys Council.

Council’s Acting Director Heinz Kausche said the trial was to help support local farmers by offering an alternative to burying or illegally burning the plastic on their properties.

“This trial silage wrap collection program for Tooma residents is one way in which we can help prevent plastic wrap accumulating on farms - becoming litter, blowing across the countryside, clogging the waterways and being ingested by stock and wildlife,” Mr Kausche said.

Council staff were on-site between 10am and 12.30pm on the day and collected over 48 cubic metres (equivalent to 4 garbage trucks) of farm plastic which was then transported to the Tumut Transfer Station for processing.

“The collection trial was well received and we heard lots of positive feedback from local farmers most whom find it challenging to transport their silage to either the Tumbarumba or Barlow transfer stations for recycling,” Mr Kausche said.

The collected plastic will be sent onto a suitable facility and recycled into a range of products from stock crush panelling and flooring, to worm farms and compost bins.

Snowy Valleys residents can recycle their silage wrap for free all year round at Council Transfer Stations in Adelong, Batlow Khancoban, Talbingo, Tumbarumba and Tumut during operating hours.

The plastic should be shaken clean of silage, gravel and other contaminants before being bundled up and put in bulka bags. Clean plastic will also be accepted loose.  Any net wrap or twine should also be removed.

Farmers are advised not to burn silage wrap on their properties as this practice is illegal and penalties apply.

A further Tooma Collection Trial will be held at the Tooma Recreation Reserve on Wednesday 4 December – 10am to 12.30pm.

For more information visit Council’s website www.snowyvalleys.nsw.gov.au/Local-Events/Tooma-Silage-Wrap-Collection