Higher plastic recycling costs for farmers

Last September farmers in the Skibbereen area of Cork brought their farm plastic to Skibbereen Mart where it was sorted and removed for recycling. Picture: Andrew Harris. 

Ten thousand tonnes of farm plastic are stockpiled around the country due to market disruption, including China cutting down imports for recycling and high costs for exporting plastic to Wales.

Farmers who depend on plastic recycling services have seen big increases in plastic levies and collection charges over the last three years. Meanwhile, bring-centres had to be closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.