„Collect and recycle all film from the field!“ - ERDE initiative commits to taking back and recycling crop plastics
The IK Initiative EARTH (Eharvest plastics Recycling DeGermany) is committed, 65 per cent of all silage and stretch films placed on the market in Germany by 2022. The official presentation of the Voluntary commitment as part of the parliamentary evening of the plastics processing industry on 26 June 2019 in Berlin.
Dr Regina Dube, Head of Department for Water Management, Resource Conservation and Adaptation to Climate Change at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, accepted the voluntary commitment. In addition to the ERDE initiative, the signatories are the IK Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen, the German Raiffeisenverband, the Bundesverband der Agrargewerblichen Wirtschaft e.V. and the Bundesverband Lohnunternehmen.
„All crop plastics should be collected and recycled in order to close the cycle and prevent plastics from entering the soil and the environment.“,
explained ERDE Managing Director and IK Managing Director Dr Jürgen Bruder the ambitious goals of the ERDE initiative.
He adds: „Manufacturers and distributors of agricultural films are the backbone of the initiative; their strong financial commitment is what makes it possible to take back used films at low cost. This is extended product responsibility in action.“ At the same time, the expansion of recycling reduces CO2 emissions.
To date, 25 per cent of silage and stretch film has been collected and recycled by ERDE. Around 70 per cent of the agricultural film collected is recycled in Germany, the remaining 30 per cent in other EU countries. The used films are turned into valuable raw materials, including for new agricultural and construction films, irrigation hoses and bin liners.
Next goal: Integration of asparagus films, round bale nets and mulch films
The inclusion of further crop plastics in the take-back and recycling system is a declared goal of the voluntary commitment. Although silage and stretch films account for the majority of applications (two thirds), asparagus films, round bale nets and mulch films will also be integrated into the cycle in the future. ERDE is thus aiming for a Integrated recycling solution for all crop plastics to.
Agricultural trade, contractors and farmers are important pillars of ERDE's success
The ERDE system is based on a large number of Collection centres, which were set up by the members of the agricultural trade associations and contractors in co-operation with the system operator RIGK GmbH.
„The take-back concept only works if manufacturers, distributors and farmers work closely together,“ says Dr Henning Ehlers, Managing Director of the German Raiffeisen Association, explaining the reasons for the support:
„Our cooperative companies are committed to supporting the ERDE initiative, are creating more and more collection points and are thus emphasising their understanding of the sustainable use of resources.“
Farmers and contractors make an active contribution to recycling by separating films by type and pre-cleaning them.
The progress of the ERDE initiative is reviewed annually by external parties. New milestones will be set together with the Federal Ministry for the Environment in 2023.
Source: ERDE Initiative
