One of the UK's largest privately owned farming businesses is leading the way in agri-recycling with help from a Shropshire industrial and agricultural packaging supply business.
Based in Southburn, East Yorkshire The JSR Farming Group (JSR) was established in 1957 by John Sykes Rymer and now employs 135 people, farming 3,825 ha of arable land, as well as being a global player in pig production and genetics. Oswestry based Agritel Ltd, supply industrial packaging materials, business stationery, recycling equipment, and pallet wrappers to companies throughout the UK.
JSR's commitment to recycling goes back to 1997 when technical director, Philip Huxtable was involved in the set up of a pilot project investigating alternative methods to burning waste plastic. The project was temporarily shelved in 2000 as a result of the decline in the agricultural industry but with European legislation pending, interest was revitalised in 2003. With support from associated LEAF¹ member, agro-chemical distributor Agrovista and recycling company Recovered Plastics; a scheme was launched in May 2005.
There were still difficulties, as Philip Huxtable explains: "We had everything in place, Agrovista collecting from their customers and delivering to our hub and Recovered Plastics collecting from us to recycle. Whilst items such as seed and feed bags were relatively easy to store and transport chemical containers posed more of a problem. A wagon can carry approximately 2.5 tons of empty containers but half of that load is essentially fresh air, so the exercise is not very space and cost effective. Options included a plastic shredder and a mobile granulator, but further research led us to Agritel. After trials with two sizes of baler we purchased an Agri-mac 400 machine in August this year. Containers and seed/fertiliser bags are now crushed into dense manageable bales for storage and so saving considerable costs on transport to Recovered Plastics based at Wrexham.
Philip Huxtable is pleased with the current arrangements and expects an increase in activity especially when the one year legislative probationary period ends in May 2007, by which time all farmers will need to have found an environmentally friendly method to dispose of waste plastic. He continues: "JSR produces six tonnes of waste plastic and Agrovista predict 1kg per hectare per year for each customer that comes on board, providing us with a huge potential market and sufficient quantities of plastic to run a cost effective operation."
John Duffus, director at Agritel said: "Many issues have been raised around the disposal of the various forms of agricultural plastic including its cleanliness, packaging, storage and transport. Agritel is developing a good track record in support and advice on recycling and I'm sure that the baler JSR has purchased will serve the various parties in their scheme very well, and enable farmers to comply with the legislation."
Pictured at the baling machine are (left to right): Chris Foley, JSR, Philip Huxtable technical director, JSR and John Duffus, managing director, Agritel Ltd.