2020-05-06 09:00 Share:  Facebook Instagram

Advise for farmers – do not spill euros on the asphalt

Advise for farmers – do not spill euros on the asphalt

Plastic is not guilty of its abundance in the oceans. The problem is people who use it improperly and do not dispose of plastic waste, the specialists say. If only residents spent a few extra minutes and more focused on simple actions, they could not only save a lot of financial resources, but also leave a cleaner world for their children.

According to Zita Varanavičienė, the Director of the Lithuanian Crop Protection Association (LCPA), with the acceleration of spring, this issue becomes especially relevant for the country's farmers who keep various products used in agricultural activities in plastic packaging. "According to our calculation, depending on the size of the package and the price of the product, a farmer can "leave" up to 4 euros in one package improperly delivered to the waste handler," the Director of the Association says.

Money flows on the asphalt

Kristina Kavaliauskienė, the Sales Director of Žalvaris, one of the largest hazardous and non-hazardous waste management facilities in the country, which collects and handles various packaging waste generated in agricultural activities, says that this is a fairly common problem. It is not uncommon for farmers to deliver packaging to waste handlers with product residues, often liquids, not always turned on, simply thrown in big bags. Product residues, which could have been successfully used in economic activities, thus simply "flow" not into the fields, but into waste collection warehouses or, worse, on the asphalt.

"Every year, when collecting packaging from farmers, we are faced with a situation where not completely rational behavior can empty the farmer's own wallet and even harm nature. From the point of view of sustainable consumption, farmers should have an interest in making the most of agricultural products stored in packaging and handing over completely empty packaging waste to the waste handler. This is not difficult to do – all you have to do is rinse the packaging of the finished material and use the product residues as intended," K. Kavaliauskienė points out.

She points out that the handling of packaging, where a certain residue of the finished product is left, is more costly and raises the issue of the safe transportation of packaging.

"Generally, licensed waste handlers are able to ensure safe waste transportation to collection points because they have the appropriate equipment and vehicles. However, if a farmer decides to deliver leaking packaging waste and packaging waste containing chemical residues to the handler on his own, it can be really difficult to do that without polluting the environment. In order to protect nature and avoid possible fines, we encourage farmers to entrust the handling of this waste and its transportation to specialists," K. Kavaliauskienė.

In Lithuania, the collection, transportation and / or processing of waste without the entitlement to engage in such activities may result in administrative liability and fines amounting from three hundred to eight hundred fifty euros.

The packaging turns into pipes

Packaging of plant protection products, like other chemicals, has very high safety and durability requirements. They must be constructed in such a way that the contents do not accidentally enter the environment, damage the packaging itself and cause reactions with it. The packaging and its fastenings must be so constructed that re-opening does not release the contents into the environment. Such packaging must not be similar to food, animal feed or cosmetics packaging to avoid misleading of consumers or attraction of the attention of children. HDPE plastic is most commonly used in the manufacture of this packaging.

"It's not a secret that packaging recycling opportunities can be determined at the development stage. Good packaging design can lead to safety in its use, and even less plastic will be used in production. There are examples in the market where the right design solutions alone can save up to 25% of plastics used in the production of packaging. Therefore, the plastic is not guilty of its abundance in the oceans. Plastic is not a bad material, it has many advantages and a wide range of use. The problem is consumers who misuse it and do not dispose of plastic waste," Z. Varanavičienė states.

The LCPA constantly reminds farmers of the rules for rinsing, drying and sorting plant protection packaging, which are also available on the website www.skalaukteisingai.lt.

According to the survey of farmers conducted by the Association, farms, depending on their size, accumulate from a few to several hundred kilograms of packaging. The specialists note that properly rinsed and dried plastic packaging can become recyclable waste. There are many examples in the world of how such packaging successfully continues its life in the circular economy cycle and becomes another useful material.

According to Z. Varanavičienė, our country should not overlook the additional opportunities to "employ" durable, practical materials and not only for economic reasons, but also for the pursuit of sustainable activities.

"Bulgaria, for example, recycles more than 90% of such HDPE packaging of plant protection products for the manufacture of plastic insulating pipes for optical cables for the telecommunications industry. The packaging that cannot be cleaned are used in a cement plant by incineration and heat recovery. So, are we so rich that we allow ourselves to waste raw materials?" Z. Varanavičienė rhetorically asks.

The head of the Association notes that the moral aspect of this issue is no less important – sustainable farming in Lithuania is gradually becoming more than just an empty phrase.

"Many farmers take care of the environment and the future of their children, sort and handle waste responsibly, try not to throw away residues, but use the products to the end. By handing over the packaging to licensed waste handlers, they ensure peace of mind that such packaging will not appear in an illegal warehouse set up at the forest edge or abandoned farm," Z. Varanavičienė says.

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