How to Recycle Agricultural Film
LDPE and similar films used on farms: mulch film, silage and hay wrap, greenhouse covers, and tunnel film. Recycling requires clean-enough, dry film delivered to ag-plastics collectors. Do not confuse this stream with ACRC's rigid container program.
Quick answer
Agricultural mulch, silage, and greenhouse film are not curbside material and are not what ACRC collects. ACRC takes empty, rinsed rigid HDPE ag chemical jugs. For film, shake off soil, keep it as dry as you can, and use a regional farm-film or agricultural plastics recycler. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Recycling code
- #4 LDPE
How to Prepare
- 1Shake and brush off as much soil, vegetation, and stones as practical
- 2Keep film as dry as possible; wet, muddy film is often rejected
- 3Separate film from twine, metal clips, drip tape, and rigid containers
- 4Bundle or bag per the collector's instructions
- 5Schedule pickup or drop-off with a farm-film recycler; do not use grocery store bag bins for dirty ag film
- 6Send empty pesticide/fertilizer jugs to ACRC after triple rinsing, not into the film pile
Where to Recycle
- Regional agricultural plastics / farm-film recyclers
- Co-op or extension collection events
- Private ag-plastics haulers
Special Instructions
ACRC (Ag Container Recycling Council) recycles empty, rinsed rigid HDPE agricultural chemical containers, not mulch or silage film. ACRC even points growers to separate resources for other ag plastics. Contaminated film with heavy soil loads has limited markets; on-farm cleaning matters.
Environmental Impact
Recycling farm film keeps large volumes of PE out of open burning and burial. Dirty film has low value, so preparation quality decides whether a load gets recycled or landfilled.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Longer-life mulches where agronomically suitable
- Take-back clauses in film supply contracts
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Mulch film (cleaned of excess soil)
- Silage and hay bale wrap
- Greenhouse and high-tunnel film
- Some irrigation tubing if the program lists it
Not Accepted
- ACRC-bound chemical jugs mixed into film (keep streams separate)
- Film soaked with pesticides or oil
- Grocery-store bag bins used for muddy field film
- Curbside residential recycling carts
FAQs
Does ACRC take agricultural film?
No. ACRC is for empty, rinsed rigid ag chemical containers (jugs). Film needs a farm-film or other ag-plastics program.
How clean does mulch film need to be?
Programs vary, but excess soil is the main rejection cause. Shake and brush in the field; wet mud packs make loads uneconomical to wash.
Can I drop farm film at a grocery store NexTrex bin?
No. Store bins are for clean consumer PE bags and wraps, not soil-laden ag film.
Where do I find a collector?
Ask your co-op, extension office, or film supplier, and check ACRC's links for other ag plastics resources. Collection is regional, not national-curbside.
Related recycling guides
- How to recycle Chip Bags & Snack Wrappers
- How to recycle Six-Pack Rings
- How to recycle Mixed Plastics (#7)
- How to recycle Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
- How to recycle Polystyrene Foam (#6)
- How to recycle Black Plastic Containers
- How to recycle Polypropylene Containers (#5)
- How to recycle Compostable Plastics
- How to recycle Plastic Bags (#4)
- How to recycle Bulky Rigid Plastic
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