The problem of plastic waste disposal in the Australian agricultural sector

For the modern horticultural industry, plastic is an essential material. However, after the end of the season, farmers are forced to roll it up and transport it to landfills, which costs farms thousands of dollars. For example, at Brown's farm in Bowen, located 200 kilometers south of Townsville, the volumes of unused plastic are constantly growing due to the cessation of available collection services.

Agricultural waste consultant Anne-Maree Boland notes that this problem is widespread. According to her, a key factor influencing the cost of the solution is the distance of farms from waste recycling infrastructure facilities. The process of preparing recyclables is also complicated by the need for thorough cleaning of the material. The owners of Brown's farm invested about $30,000 in creating special equipment for cleaning plastic mats to meet the requirements of recyclers.

Currently, attempts are being made to create new recycling facilities. Sandra Richards is working with a family-owned Chinese company, represented by Robert Ho, on a project to build a facility in Townsville capable of processing up to 20,000 tons of plastic annually into agricultural products, including packaging bags. The project is also considering the possibility of producing building materials, such as sleepers and park benches. However, the implementation of the initiative is slowing down due to difficulties in finding a suitable site that meets requirements for energy and water supply and proximity to the port.

At the state level, the issue remains acute. The Queensland government has adopted the "Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035" strategy, which provides for the allocation of about $1 billion over five years for the development of waste recycling infrastructure. Environment Minister Andrew Powell emphasized that there is currently a clear deficit of investment in the agricultural plastic recycling sector, which leads to further accumulation of waste on farms.