Farmlands in Levin and Pukekohe are supporting the push for sustainability and environmental best practice with the opening of Agrecovery Container collection sites at these stores.
Local farmers, growers, contractors and golf courses can make the most of this recycling programme at these sites which will accept eligible plastic containers on Monday to Fridays, from 8:30am to 4:30pm (Levin) and 8am to 4pm (Pukekohe). Empty triple rinsed containers, 1 – 60 litres in size, from 57 brand owners of agrichemical, biological, animal health and dairy hygiene products can be recycled for free.
Using the Agrecovery programme for products belonging to the 57 brand owners is mandatory for New Zealand GAP accreditation, the produce industry’s quality assurance programme.
NZ GAP is recognised by all of New Zealand’s leading supermarkets and buyers, and provides a traceable, accountable system from crop to customer for the production of fruit, vegetables, arable crops and olives.
Farmlands have been very supportive of the rural recycling programme since it started in 2007, stocking wrap recycling bags in store and helping promote the programmes, as well as now hosting eight Agrecovery collection sites in the North Island.
Geoff Taylor, General Manager of Operations for Farmlands is pleased to increase support for Agrecovery as more and more farmers and growers get involved with the programme.
“I’m a grower myself and I know that sustainable disposal of ‘farm’ waste is becoming a major compliance issue in our industry, particularly as levels of production continue to intensify. It’s good to be able to offer this valuable service through our stores, both to our shareholders and the wider rural community.”
Agrecovery has over 70 collection sites located across New Zealand, from Kaitaia in the North to Winton in Southland. The collected containers are shredded by a mobile processing truck and processed into underground electrical cable covers here in New Zealand.
The collection sites are located as follows:
- Pukekohe – Farmlands, 86A Harris Street. Open Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm. This replaces the previous collection site located at Horticentre.
- Levin – Farmlands, 537 Queen Street East. Open Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm. This replaces the previous collection site located at Elders.
Containers must be empty, triple rinsed and free from residue inside and out. All containers will be inspected before being accepted. Only containers belonging to the 57 participating brand owners are free to recycle.
A full list of collection sites is available here.