The Future of Agricultural Plastics

Australia’s target to achieve 80% resource recovery from all waste streams by 2030 and goals for a circular economy is driving significant changes in how plastic waste is managed across sectors, including agriculture.

However, the progress in recycling agricultural plastics has been patchy, with efforts advancing in some areas while stalling in others. Challenges persist in on-farm retrieval, contamination with soil and organics, and the lack of suitable collection infrastructure. Contaminated plastics are less likely to be recycled, and in many regions, these materials still end up being stockpiled, buried, or burned.

Despite the challenges, continued focus on specific waste streams and renewed interest in regional solutions is making headway. This includes existing programs such as drumMUSTER and Big Bag Recovery, and initiatives undertaken by irrigation pipe manufacturers such as Netafim and Rivulis. Regional initiatives are starting to gain traction with local governments such as Southern Downs, Bundaberg and Whitsunday Regional Councils in Queensland and Swan Hill Regional Council in Victoria working with growers to support plastic recycling on the ground.

These activities can be supported with greater investment in regional logistics and recycling infrastructure (for size reduction and pre-processing), expanded aggregation initiatives, and supporting farmers in preparing and transporting plastics for collection.

However much more needs to be done to support the industry on a national scale. Extensive research and stakeholder engagement into a national stewardship scheme for agricultural plastics was completed in 2023, but the implementation of a voluntary scheme has remained elusive. Industry is committed to doing the “right thing” however without regulation, action will continue to be fragmented and lacking a clear vision.

Extended producer responsibility – where producers are held accountable for the environmental impact of their products across their entire life cycle – is the long-term solution for managing all agricultural plastics more sustainably.

Ultimately, a coordinated and national approach underpinned by regulation will accelerate the recycling of agricultural plastics and consideration of viable alternatives.

Dr Anne-Maree Boland
Principal
RMCG