Recognised as one of Ireland’s leading skip hire and recycling companies since the 1980s, Waste Recovery Services (WRS) has branched into the farm plastics recycling sector in recent years. Operations director Shane Dunlea explains more.

Established in Fermoy, Co. Cork by Shane’s father John, WRS has nearly 30 years’ experience in the waste management industry, having forged a reputation for high levels of quality and service in that time. As well as providing a skip hire service throughout Munster, WRS specialises in timber and farm plastics recycling.

Whereas timber recycling once accounted for a large part of Waste Recovery Services’ business, it has been outgrown by farm plastics recycling since 2010 when the company was awarded the contract for Co. Cork to collect and recycle farm plastics by the Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG).

The IFFPG is Ireland’s only government licensed recycling compliance scheme which is responsible for providing an efficient and cost-effective farm plastics recycling service to farmers nationwide. As an approved IFFPG contractor, WRS collects both at the farmyard and at designated bring centres.

The scheme is “not for profit” and is funded through a levy that is charged on all silage plastic that members place on the market, as well as a weight-based collection fee charge to farmers.

The enforcement of the Farm Plastics Regulations is the responsibility of local authorities through their waste enforcement officers. IFFPG assists local authorities with enforcement. A labelling tracking website has been developed by IFFPG, which is accessible only to the local authority waste enforcement officer. This site helps local authorities to identify and prosecute non-compliant suppliers of silage plastic. Producers or suppliers of silage plastic that fail to comply with the regulations are liable to face prosecution and fines of up to €3,000.

The recycling of farm plastics – which are an eyesore in many farms – is a growing area and WRS has rarely been as busy since winning the contract for Co. Cork four years ago.

“It was a great contract to get, especially in light of the fact that timber recycling isn’t as strong as it used to be,” Shane says.

“Cork is not only the biggest county geographically speaking; it’s also the biggest county in farming terms which means we have a huge area to cover. What we’re basically doing is providing a recycling service to farmers for their plastic, about 80 per cent of which is polythene, which is used as bale wrapping or silage cover.

“We can provide an on-farm collection where we use a specialised unit with a grab to take the plastic away. We have a mobile weigh bridge to weigh the plastic and a small fee is charged based on the amount of plastic we take away. Farmers need to have a six-digit label code, which they are given when they pay their levy to the IFFPG, to qualify for a reduced collection rate.

“Alternatively, farmers can bring their plastic to our bring centres which are facilitated by marts and co-ops throughout the county. We recently had a bring centre in Kanturk Mart which took in 600 loads over two days.

“We will be providing bring centres for farmers for a two-and-a-half month period, starting in Castlelyons (Glanbia) on May 21. Our other sites in May will be Killeagh (Cork County Council depot) on May 24, Midleton (McDonald’s Grain Store) on May 26, Mitchelstown Mart on May 28/29 and Carrigtwohill (Fota Point Enterprise Park) on May 31.”

In the past decade, farmers have recycled over 80,000 tonnes of plastic into a range of products, including refuse sacks and garden furniture. Each year, IFFPG coordinate over 200 bring centres nationwide. And as Shane has mentioned, farmers can significantly reduce their collection costs by ensuring they provide a six-digit code to IFFPG prior to, or at collection. When purchasing silage plastic wrap, farmers must ensure that they receive a six-digit code on their invoice / receipt.

The fee for a farm collection (half-a-tonne) is €40 with the code and €100 without it. For a bring centre, the fee is €12 with the code and €85 without. So it pays to be an IFFPG member.

IFFPG contractors, such as WRS, have their trucks fitted with sophisticated weight cell equipment which is used at farmyards to accurately weigh the plastic and charge the farmer. The contractors weigh plastic at bring centres on static weigh bridges (where they exist) and mobile weigh bridges.
Once the plastic is collected, the recycling process can begin.

“We start the cycle by getting the material baled up for shipping. The majority of it is recycled abroad because the infrastructure isn’t in Ireland to do it. Most of the plastic will make its way back into the system in other forms,” Shane explains.

Employing 25 full-time staff and five part-time, WRS is perhaps best known for its domestic and commercial skip hire service. The company also specialises in the recycling of timber, plasterboard, cardboard, green waste, metals, rubble and, of course, plastics.

Renowned for its innovation and creativity in the management and recycling of waste, WRS continues to invest in new equipment and technology. A few years ago, it invested over €1 million in new equipment which enables it to process waste quickly, safely and for a variety of purposes. Its objective is to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfills by recycling.

Waste Recovery Services’ customer- base spans a diverse range of blue-chip manufacturers, construction companies, waste disposal companies, demolition contractors, local authorities, wood processors and farmers.
Waste Recovery Services
(Fermoy) Ltd
Cullenagh,
Fermoy,
Co. Cork.

Phone: +353(0)25 31055
Fax: +353(0)25 3152
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.wrs.ie

Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 2 No 4, September 2014

Plastics, Waste Recovery Services