bpi.recycled products help plastics get a second lease of life

Five months has passed since the new farm waste regulations came into force and bpi.recycled products partnership with Birch Farm Plastic is going from strength to strength.

Since the government announced the Agricultural Waste Regulations would come into effect on 15th May, Birch Farm Plastic, based in Wales, has brought over 100 tonnes per week of used plastic to bpi's recycling facility in Dumfries.

In order to meet the growing demand, bpi.recycled products has recently invested £2 million in a second wash plant which will double capacity at its Dumfries facility from 15,000 to 30,000 tonnes of agricultural waste plastic. The investment was made in response to the growing pressure from the agricultural industry for outlets to recycle their waste plastic.

This year bpi.recycled products has worked alongside its sister company, bpi.agri, producer of premier balewrap product, Silotite, to inform farmers and contractors of how to prepare waste plastic for collection, and of the useful end applications there are for waste plastic material once it has been through the recycling process. Working together at seminars and balewrapping clinics across the UK, both companies have provided practical advice and demonstrations to customers.

bpi.recycled products is the largest polythene recycler in Europe and has reprocessed the farm plastic waste collected through the IFFPG scheme for several years.

Birch Farm Plastic is a family run business and has been collecting waste plastic from farmers and contractors in Wales and the Border counties for over 16 years. The business has recently expanded its operations across the UK after it acknowledged there would be an increase in demand for a reliable collection system.

Ken Oswin, Operations Director at bpi.recycled products commented, "We are really pleased with the high levels of waste plastic that has been brought into us by Birch Farm Plastics. The new regulations have required Farmers and Agricultural Contractors to consider how they will comply in the most cost-effective manner - collection schemes such as that offered by Birch Farm Plastic can help them do this by advising on waste preparation and

storage.

Ken continues "Our site at Dumfries has been in operation for several years during which time we have gained much expertise in this area. The recent investment means we can handle a higher quantity of waste plastic and meet the growing demand from customers."