Veolia partners with Farm Waste Recovery to recycle agricultural packaging

Environmental solutions provider Veolia has secured a three-year deal with Farm Waste Recovery (FWR), part of the Industry Waste Recovery (IWR) group, to provide collection, transport and recycling services of polypropylene packaging for its closed-loop network across Australia.

Established in 2015, FWR helps industries and farmers recycle agricultural packaging and product waste in a sustainable manner. The group’s formation followed a significant rise in the use of polypropylene bags and their associated waste, prompting IWR to develop a solution that encourages the development of long-term collection and disposal practices.

Leveraging Veolia’s waste collections and management expertise, IWR will work with industry stakeholders to reduce the number of landfilled polypropylene bags, also known as flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) bags, many of which cause environmental damage by polluting fields, waterways and roads. This initiative will allow businesses to pre-purchase the packaging, which then can be used and dropped off at collection sites, to be further transported and processed by Veolia.

“We saw an incredible opportunity in partnering with an industry leader that is tackling the challenge of packaging waste head on, in particular an issue as widespread as FIBC waste,” said Danny Conlon, executive general manager of Veolia Australia and New Zealand. “IWR has ambitious recovery targets, and together, we will deliver an environment-friendly solution to recycle an otherwise wasted resource.

“Our partnership with IWR is part of a wider, united targeted approach to waste management. Veolia is pleased to be part of a large stakeholder group, who are placing recycling at the top of their agenda.”

Stephen Richards, managing director of IWR, said FWR operates on a closed-loop supply chain and involves a cross-section of industry operators, like Veolia, as well as farmers, manufacturers and associations, which has led to gaining the support of governments and councils. He revealed that IWR has so far recovered and recycled 1,123,928 kg of plastic and is targeting the recovery of 12,000,000 kg of plastic by June 2020.

“Partnering with Veolia will enable national coverage to all of our new and existing customers, and we see this collaboration as a step in the right direction for our group,” Richards said.