Rural recycling centre opens

GOOD PRACTICE: Ian Passey, pictured with daughter Gemma, says there is a "deep satisfaction knowing you will leave the land in better condition than you found it".PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A centre has opened in Taihape for the recycling of plastic agrichemical and animal health containers.

Agrecovery Rural Recycling has set up the permanent facility at the Taihape Transfer Station.

"We've been holding recycling events in Taihape for a number of years now, and the positive response has encouraged us to open a permanent site," says Duncan Scotland of Agrecovery.

"Farmers want simple, safe, and sustainable ways of dealing with unwanted chemicals and their packaging. Agrecovery provides that solution.

"Plus it's free for containers from 64 distributors and manufacturers of agrichemicals and animal health products."

There are eight other collection sites in the Manawatu-Whanganui region, part of a nationwide recycling network.

Fourth generation Pohangina Valley dairy farmer Ian Passey has been using the Agrecovery collection site in Feilding since 2010. With only a small number of containers each year, Ian believes recycling may be peripheral to running a farm, but he feels it is simply good farming practice.

"For most farmers that old adage remains true - we want to leave the land in a better state than we found it. I believe there's a parallel between good farming and leaving your land in better condition, and of course there is a deep satisfaction in doing so, whether you're passing your land on to family or someone else.

"It's part of how the majority of farmers are wired. Plus, recycling is really easy."

To recycle: containers must be 0-60 litres in size, free of chemical residue, dirt and other contamination inside and out, and still have the label on to identify the brand.

Please ensure containers are well drained after triple rinsing. All containers will be inspected before being accepted. Containers from 64 participating brand owners are free to recycle.

The Taihape Transfer Station is in Manu Rd. It is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 7.30am to 11.30am and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 3pm.

Agrecovery in Manawatu-Whanganui: There are nine container collection sites in the region: Whanganui, Taumarunui, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Feilding, Marton, Pahiatua, Levin and now Taihape.

Agrecovery also has programmes for chemical disposal and large drum recovery.

-For more information call 0800 247 326 or visit www.agrecovery.co.nz.