Agriculture Plastics Recycling in Michigan (2015)

Contact full name: 
Sherry L. Blaszak
Project Status: 
Current Project Idea
Client Organization: 
Missaukee Conservation District
Client Website: 
Missaukee Conservation District
Client is confirmed: 
yes
City: 
Lake City
Contact Phone: 
231-839-7193
State or Country: 
Michigan
Contact e-mail: 
sherry.blaszak@macd.org
Contact information: 
I am a staff member of a potential client organization
Job title: 
Executive Director
Project Location : 
Lake City, MI
Summary of Project Idea: 

Project overview: The overview of this project is to get agricultural plastics recycled in Michigan at a reasonable cost to the farmer, measured by both time and monetary investment. Thousands and thousands of pounds of this material is used yearly by farmers to cover silage and hay. When its purpose has been served the material is buried, landfilled or burned. This project would (1) Form a stakeholder coalition to assess community buy-in, agricultural plastics availability, collection best-practices and to over-see the implementation of an agricultural recycling program  (2) Establish a pilot-test area in Missaukee and Wexford Counties; and (3) evaluate the financial, technical and legal constraints of recycling on farming operations and develop a marketing plan to highlight the environmental and economic benefits.

Summary of Project and Goals

  • Summarize agriculture plastics recycling programs in other states such as Wisconsin and New York; learn of their successes and other learning experiences
  • Identify amount and types of agriculture plastics utilized in pilot area
  • Identify the tonnage of material being diverted from waste generated in the pilot area
  • Identify and connect with partners to assist with researching the feasibility of an agriculture plastics program
  • Develop a sustainable plan for marketing the project to farmers, lawmakers, and agri-businesses
  • Develop a sustainable plan for collection, baling and transporting of materials
  • Identify the machinery John Deere is developing to bale material onsite (at farms)
  • Identify needed equipment and materials needed to carry out a successful program in Michigan
  • Develop long-term local commitment to the project
  • Develop a program that can be adopted by other communities
  • Develop a partnership with Farm Bureau and other farming organizations to utilize their strength in the community as a means of communication with farmers.
Skills/Expertise Needed: 
  • Knowledge or interest in the agriculture plastics recycling industry
  • Experience developing marketing plans, evaluating economic feasibility issues
  • Knowledge of general farming operations, farm sustainability 
  • Knowledge of transportation industry and/or sustainable emerging technology 
  • Experience with behavior change and/or environmental education
  • Knowledge of sustainable landscape design
SNRE Program Areas: 
Conservation Ecology (Aquatic Sciences, Terrestrial Ecosystems, and Conservation Biology)
Environmental Policy and Planning
Behavior, Education, and Communication
Environmental Informatics
Sustainable Systems
Landscape Architecture
Professional Career Development Benefits: 

Students can expect to develop marketing, communication and research skills.  Team members will gain experience vetting organizations, evaluating economic efficiency in business operations, learning how to engage farmers in energy saving/environmental saving best management practices, learning how to connect seemingly unconnected industries (farming and sidewalks) and networking with professionals in various industries. A presentation of the project findings would be presented to, at minimum, Missaukee and Wexford Farm Bureaus and Michigan Department of agriculture and Rural Development.

Funding Sources: 

Grants have been submitted to 2 organizations to help with cost of mailings, travel, and publications. $2300 has been secured from USDA Rural Development for agriculture plastics recycling; a request to utilize the funds for feasibility study and costs connected to the study has been submitted.

Identify expected products/deliverables: 

The expected product is a business management plan that enumerates economic and environmental benefits of agriculture plastic recycling, a defined organizational structure (board or co-op) to oversee an agriculture plastic recycling program, and a detailed plan  on how to carry out a the program in the pilot project area so that it that can be transferred to programs across the State of Michigan.  The business plan will include funding details, a list of equipment and supplies necessary to carry out the program, a marketing/outreach plan to increase participation among farmers, and a summary of potential successes and failures of the project.