THE Cairngorms National Park Authority is helping farmers and crofters in their efforts to protect the environment of the Cairngorms National Park by funding two recycling schemes.
Farmers and crofters are legally obliged to dispose of their agricultural waste in a way that does not cause any harm to the environment or to human health. It is estimated that there are more than 100 tonnes of plastic agricultural waste within the Park that could be recycled.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is helping to meet the demand by part-funding two agri-waste schemes in the National Park. Farmers and crofters can either take part in a bin and liner system run by Solway or they may deliver the waste themselves to David Ritchie and Sons, near Aviemore.
A Solway recycling bin and five bin liners can now be bought for the reduced fee of £165 or £180 with ten liners. Participants will save £85 under the scheme thanks to CNPA funding. There is a further reduction of £15 for National Farmers Union of Scotland members. Solway will also provide a farm waste policy and for a further small, additional fee will collect the full liners from farms and crofts.
Alternatively farmers and crofters can take their agricultural plastic waste to Ritchie’s and the CNPA will pay the gate fee (usually £60 per tonne). The only cost for the individual will be for transporting it to the site. The project has been extended following a successful pilot period earlier this year.
Will Boyd-Wallis, CNPA Senior Land Management Officer, said: “The CNPA is committed to helping businesses within the Park adopt greener practices.
“We are aware that farmers and crofters across the country are having difficulties with dealing with new waste obligations. These two schemes will help to ease the cost as well as help farmers and crofters to dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly and convenient way.”
The following plastics can be recycled:
- woven polypropylene – outer bulk fertiliser and feed bags, seed bags
- hard plastics – containers for herbicides and pesticides, drums, feed-lick buckets, pipes etc
- soft plastics – silage wrap, silage pit covers, small feed and fertiliser bags, sawdust bags, plastic packaging, shrink wrap, pallet covers etc
Farmers and crofters must ensure all waste is properly cleaned and separated into the above categories.
For more information on the Solway scheme, contact W&W Mackie on 01975 562 119 or for areas south of Carrbridge/Boat of Garten contact Tayside Agri-waste on 01887 820 415 or 07776 265 456.
For more information on the scheme run in partnership with David Ritchie and Sons, contact Brian Ritchie on 07711330969.
For advice on the regulations and on how best to deal with your waste contact your local Scottish Environment Protection Agency office in Elgin, Aberdeen or Perth or see www.netregs.gov.uk