b"Right now, like the Municipal District of Willow Creek where Ionce it moves to a permanent program, then there will probably am, they've started to collect grain bags. I just call the ag fieldmanbe some minor changes in just how they're going to pay for the and because it's very new for them I meet them at the landfill. Andprogram.they check to make sure it's rolled tight and acceptable, and then I just drop it off there. ASG: What do you want to say to farmers who aren't recycling yet to get them on the bandwagon?ASG: How is your group and the work that its doingDH: From my point of view, it's our responsibility to take care of being funded currently? the environment for our future generations. And it will require DH: Initially it was a $1 million grant from the Government ofsome work from us. But it's really important that we leave the land Alberta through Agriculture and Irrigation. So, it was initiallybehind us in as good of state as we can.funded for three years. And then we've got a couple grant extensions. Well, we've had one grant extension, we're hoping for aASG: Is there anything else you'd like to say?second to carry it through to the end of 2025, because it's going toDH: If people were to take advantage of the program right now, take a while to transition to EPR. especially for their legacy material, it's free to do so other than your cost of getting it to a drop-off site. For larger producers, if you have ASG: How has recycling uptake been since startinglots of grain bags or twine stored up, you talk to Cleanfarms, if this program? you have enough, they'll come right to your yard site and pick it up DH: Very good. I think a lot of producers have been sitting on theirfrom you.plastic. My family, we couldn't burn it, didn't want to bury it. So, Ashley Robinsonwe've been stockpiling it hoping a program would come along. So far, we've collected over 2,700 metric tonnes of grain bags and twine as of March 2023.ASG: For ag recycling access points, are there enough? DH: It's getting better all the time. There are still a couple areas of theS PECIALTYS EEDS LTD.province that are a little bit short, but we're filling themthey're getting filled in pretty good. There's a map available actually on either the Cleanfarms website or you can link to it through the AgWILL AND JEAN VAN ROESSELPlastics Recycling Group website as well, to see where they all are. BOX 490, BOW ISLAND, AB T0K 0G0Phone: (403) 545-6018Cell: (403) 952-0913ASG: With people who have been reluctant to recycle,Email: [email protected] have you found is holding them back? Web site: www.specialtyseeds.caDH: I would say on the twine side, I'm just encouraging people because that's a little bit different. You have to get the twine off the bale in a fairly clean state and put it into a bag that can be brought to a recycling drop-off. So, it's a little bit tough, perhaps for some producers, in how twine comes off bales at different times of the year. As far as the grain bags, it's probably people's fear that it won'tHRS WHEAT HEMP HYBRID FALL RYE be accepted when they get it to the drop-off point. But a lot ofAAC BrandonHenola KWS SerafinoBollesPicolo(municipal districts) are making access to grain bag rollers. So, youRedNet Grandi FORAGE SEEDScan go and rent a proper roller. And for some it may have been theCFX-2 All grasses and DURUMRak legumes for yards, distance to a drop-off point. Like I said, we're getting really goodAAC GoldNetpasture and haycoverage across the province now. CDC Precision YELLOW PEASCDC Vantta AAC AberdeenINOCULANTSAAC Carver For all pulse cropsASG: Are there any plans to expand or change how theWINTER WHEAT CDC Citrineprogram is run? AAC NetworkDH: No, not until it comes under the provincial extended producer responsibility. Our job right now is to collect the data, to make sure we can figure out how a permanent program will work. And then Fall 2023 49"