Syngenta WasteAway scheme provides waste solution

Syngenta has become the first UK crop protection company to introduce a container disposal scheme that will help growers to comply with new waste legislation. The WasteAway voucher scheme will help to pay for the collection and disposal of containers by an approved waste contractor.

New waste management legislation, due to be phased in over the coming year, is set to make the disposal of waste plastics increasingly onerous for farmers. Waste plastics include fertiliser and seed bags and used chemical containers. Over 60% of plastic containers are currently burned by farmers, with less than 10% disposed of through a waste contractor or approved site, according to recent surveys. The burning of containers is already illegal in Scotland and set to be prohibited across the rest of the UK next year.

Launching the WasteAway scheme, Syngenta Cereal Crop Manager, Garth Bretherton, said registered growers participating in the scheme will receive WasteAway vouchers, the value of which could be sufficient to pay the farm's cost of plastic chemical container disposal. These vouchers will be redeemable with approved waste contractors.

"WasteAway has been designed to help growers make the transition to a fully regulated waste collection and disposal system for all farm plastics and other waste products. All arable farms across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be eligible for the WasteAway scheme." He reported growers presented with the concept at Syngenta meetings over the winter have welcomed the initiative.

Defra, the Environment Agency and waste contractors estimate arable farms currently produce nearly two kilos of waste plastic packaging per hectare; with chemical containers alone accounting for around 30% of the weight. For a 1200 hectare unit, producing over 2.2 tonnes of plastic waste a year, the typical disposal cost could be as high as £2750 a year.

"WasteAway vouchers will make a significant contribution in reducing growers' disposal costs," said Mr Bretherton. Furthermore, by adopting new technologies, such as shredding plastic containers into bags, the cost for packaging disposal could be reduced by 80%.

Since WasteAway will only use approved and regulated contractors, farmers can be assured they will have executed their duty of care for the onward transfer of waste. However, growers must still keep a transfer note of when packaging has moved off the farm, and to where.

The WasteAway scheme is only one part of the Syngenta packaging solution. Mr Bretherton added: "The company is still committed to returnable and refillable packaging wherever practical - with increased availability of Amistar in Link-Paks for potato growers this spring, for example. Other initiatives include reducing packaging volume and creating simpler one-product solutions, such as the new wheat and barley herbicide, Axial.

"Syngenta already offers a collection schemes for used containers with fruit and vegetable growers in Spain and Portugal, where waste disposal is a prerequisite of certification for EUREPGAP registration required for the export market," said Mr Bretherton. "The WasteAway scheme simply and effectively puts UK arable farmers ahead of the legislative demands."

Growers looking to join the WasteAway scheme can register with their local Syngenta Field Crop Manager, or contact Syngenta Customer Services on 0800 169 6058. A web based registration system will be available at www.syngenta-crop.co.uk