| 91 RURAL SERVICES » Plasback Plasback set on improving efficiencies Baler at Old West Coast Road. Kelly Deeks Collecting increasing amounts of agricultural plastics since its establishment in 2006, recycling solutions provider Plasback has made a huge move to improve efficiencies this year, with the lease of a sizeable property near Yaldhurst, Christchurch and the addition of a state-of-theart baler which has brought a 900% increase in productivity. Mandated farm plastic recycling is set to be introduced soon, and Plasback has developed a solution which is ready to tackle the issue head on. Plasback developed a voluntary product stewardship scheme for New Zealand, founded in 2006, which recovers used farm plastics for recycling with a bin and liner system and on-farm collection. Its reliable nationwide network of 14 independent collection contractors collect bale wrap, silage pit covers, shrink wrap, pallet covers, polypropylene bags, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, vineyard nets, irrigation pipes, and polypropylene twine from farms and vineyards, and deliver them to purpose built balers operating in nine regions across the country. These balers are designed to improve transport logistics from the main centres to recycling plants. Having collected 38 million kilograms of plastic since its inception, and volumes increasing year-on-year, Plasback has been compelled to improve its productivity this year and is using a new depot in Christchuch as a pilot scheme. “Slow balers cost more to operate so we took the decision to put a higher performance baler into the Christchurch region,” says Plasback commercial manager Neal Shaw. “Our previous baler was operating to capacity and we had to look at how we could improve our efficiencies while having an eye on the future mandated agricultural plastics recycling, which means even more plastic will be coming in in future. We have been focusing on ag stretch film but we knew there would be more types of plastic coming.” To cater to future demand, alongside its new baler Plasback has installed a shredder for hard plastics giving farmers and rural recycling programme Agrecovery another option for getting their hard plastics shredded then shipped to where it needs to go. “There is huge demand for some plastics, and quite a number of customers for our shredded hard plastics.” Christchurch was chosen as the location to test the efficacy of the high-speed baler investment for its central South Island location and excellent transport links. Since early January, Plasback has developed a 9000sqm site close to Lyttelton Port Company’s Midland Port, with equipment and shelter and has been up and running since July. Neal says indications so far are that this has been a successful move, and could eventually be rolled out in the North Island. “It has been interesting to see how much additional business has come out of this development. We have been contacted by people we haven’t been dealing with, other types of growers, construction companies, and other businesses that are looking for us to help them. People are looking for assistance to process their plastic and put it into the recycling chain.” Neal says Plasback’s customers can help the effectiveness of this solution by paying attention to Vision Plastics Proudly partnering with Plasback to provide recycling solutions to the Rotational industry. Phone 09 427 0674 enquiries@vplas.co.nz FOR ALL YOUR HORTICULTURAL & VITICULTURE REQUIREMENTS SIDE NET • SINGLE ROW NETS • MULTI ROW NETS MADE TO ORDER NET • NET RECYCLING 03 338 6296 | sales@empak.co.nz | www.empak.co.nz North Island: Sam Barker - 0274 629 224 | sbarker@empak.co.nz South Island: Matthew Burns - 0275 522 062 | mburns@empak.co.nz R the decontamination of their plastic waste. Dirt, debris, rubbish, and non-recyclable materials can pose serious challenges for recycling facilities, and can mean entire collections end up in landfill, rather than being turned into a valuable, reusable commodity.
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