recycling

leading the drive to reduce agricultural waste

As a leader in the field, The Co-operative Farms is continually seeking to improve its environmental performance, with a view to driving up standards across the industry.

Back in 2002, four years before Defra announced new waste regulations for agriculture, we identified an opportunity to recycle the plastic waste being produced on our farms. At this point more than 70,000 empty agrochemical containers were being burned on site.

The majority of the plastic and cardboard waste from our farms and packhouses is now sent for re-cycling. On our farm in Lincolnshire we are also operating a recycling service for the counties farmers in conjunction with Agricycle Ltd.

We are working with Agrovista, our pesticides supplier, to reduce the amount of waste packaging that is produced. Initiatives include taking product in 10 litre containers in preference to 5 litres and the use of large reusable IBC tanks for certain products.

research and development