NATION’S LARGEST RECYCLER OF AGRICULTURAL PLASTICS
OPENS IN BROOKS, OREGON

The opening of new Agri-Plas processing plant supports Governor’s sustainability initiative

Brooks, Ore. – With the opening of Agri-Plas, Inc.’s new processing plant, millions of pounds of agricultural plastics that have, in the past, been dumped in landfills, burned or buried by farmers can now be recycled. What was once bailing twine, silage bags, flower pots, and greenhouse plastics can now be turned into such useable products as new nursery pots, field tiles, car parts, tools and many other products.Agri-Plas, the first company in the nation to recycle the vast majority of agricultural plastics, held the grand opening of its new processing plant in rural Marion County on September 21, 2006.

“This is a dream come true and I truly believe we could not have accomplished this anyplace else other than in Oregon,” said Agri-Plas President Dari Jongsma. “Not only do Oregonians understand the value of protecting the environment, but so do state and local governments, which helped us tremendously to realize our dream.”In support of Governor Ted Kulongoski’s Executive Order that created the Oregon Sustainability Act, a $100,000 grant was provided to Agri-Plas from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund. Additional funding and assistance was provided through: the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD), which provided a grant for workforce training; The Oregon Department of Energy, which provided construction loans;· Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which provided a grant for the purchase of recycling equipment; Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), which assisted in locating a site for the new facility; and Marion County, which was instrumental in developing new zoning to accommodate agricultural plastics recycling and, through its environmental services division, provided a grant to reimburse labor costs for the collection of bailing twine from farmers, resulting in the collection of 2.5 million pounds of twine per year.

"The opening of Agri-Plas proves the strength of Oregon’s commitment to sound practices by businesses and agriculture," said Governor Ted Kulongoski. "The state of Oregon is supporting a vital, growing industrial cluster of companies that use sustainable practices to help us manage our natural resources in a way that will benefit everyone for generations to come."

According to Jongsma, almost 20 million pounds of plastics per year are disposed of, primarily in landfills, by the agriculture industry in Oregon. A significant portion of the plastics are generated from the more than 2,000 nurseries in the state, which alone create 80,000 pounds of plastic waste every week. Polypropelene from old nursery pots is melted and blended into new plant containers, reducing the need for virgin material by 10 to 20 percent. Bailing twine, formerly used to hold hay, is refashioned into auto parts. The plastic film used to cover greenhouses—replaced every one to four years—is turned into plastic lumber. The only plastic not recycled by Agri-Plas is PVC pipe.

The grand opening of the new processing plant took place on September 21, 2006, at the Agri-Plas plant located just outside Brooks, Oregon. In attendance will was the Governor’s Natural Resources Advisor Mike Carrier and representatives from OECDD, Oregon DEQ, Marion County, and SEDCOR among others.