Wrap Recycling initiative adds Value
September 30, 2009
Hawke’s Bay hay and balage contractor Mike Kettle is killing two birds with one stone with his decision to supply Agrecovery Wrap recycling bags for free to his farming clients.
Not only is he taking a proactive stand to support the farm environment, he is also adding value to his business in the process.
Mike Kettle Contracting Ltd is a highly successful agricultural contracting business that has been expanding each year across all parts of his cultivation, hay and silage operation.
On the balage side, Mike covers the Hawke’s Bay region, from Wairoa to Waipawa, producing about 18,000 wrapped bales per annum.
This equates to a lot of silage wrap but thanks to Mike’s initiative, disposing of the used wrap – a major and persistent on-farm waste issue for farmers – is now incredibly simple.
Mike says he decided to pay for and supply Wrap bags to his clients to complement the existing services he provides.
‘We wanted to add value for our loyal clients and it benefits us too in that we are making life easier for them, which they appreciate.
‘You often see silage wrap rolling around the paddocks or stacked up in piles everywhere – the farmers are all for convenient ways of disposing of it and if we can help them it’s good for us too.
‘It gives us the opportunity to offer our clients more services,’ says Mike. ‘And so far, there’s been a really positive and enthusiastic response.’
‘The farmers are really getting on board with this – we have already given away 90 packets of bags, enough to recycle about 5,500 round bale wraps and our customers are really happy about it.
‘Most farmers do not want to dump the used plastic wrap or burn it – but until now it was frustrating as they had no place where they could recycle it.’
Not only is Mike giving away the Wrap bags, he has agreed to operate as a collection point for the bags as well. Agrecovery has installed a 40ft shipping container at his property and Mike will encourage his farming clients to bring back their full recycling bags to this convenient location.
‘It is not hugely significant in terms of our own business, but it is helping the farmers, and of course it has huge benefits for the environment.’
Bruce Emerson, director of 3R Group, programme managers for Agrecovery, says: ‘We’re delighted that Mike has decided to offer Agrecovery Wrap recycling bags to his clients.
‘Mike has removed one of the potential barriers to farmers supporting the Wrap recycling programme by removing the cost for his clients. It is simply a no brainer for his farmers to recycle their wrap now!’
‘It’s great to see those involved in the process taking responsibility for the product at the end of its lifecycle. That’s Product Stewardship in action,’ says Bruce.