UK berry grower Haygrove has teamed up with RPC bpi Horticulture to create a UK-based recycling scheme for disused crop tunnel covers.
In recent years significant quantities of film from crop tunnels have been shipped to China for recycling, but since they stopped accepting used film, growers have been left short of options.
Recognising a need for domestic recycling services, the duo are launching the scheme to create a homegrown circular economy. When buying film Haygrove will issue a vouchcer entitling the purchaser to have the film recycled at no cost.
The voucher will also provide contact details to arrange the collection of the film by RPC bpi, with growers also able to deliver it themselves. Growers in turn receive a recycling certificate, enabling them to demonstrate their recycling credentials, handy for environmental audits.
The scheme aims to ensure that film manufactured and sold in the UK is recycled in the country. For the first three years of the scheme RPC bpi will collect full loads of all makes of tunnel film for recycling, and hope after that all film will be their own recycled tunnel material.
Recycled tunnel film can also be used to make crop grow bags, compost sacks and damp proof membranes.
