Recycled plastic bale wrap - white or coloured?

[matthew]

We had a waste plastic collection today and it certainly is getting increasingly difficult to find a home for black bale wrap.
Our local council can’t recycle black household plastic either. It goes to landfill.

So, maybe a daft idea, but any reason bale wrap couldn’t be white or a colour that could be acceptable to recyclers? If we as farmers can’t get rid of the stuff responsibly, maybe pass the problem up to the manufacturers.

Tin hat.

 

[happycows]

Read article few weeks ago about clear wrap like cling film. It’s actually worth something so maybe free to dispose of. They are trying to get manufacturers to push it more.

 

[slackjawedyokel]

Clear stuff would be really handy; you could tell the state of the bale without cutting the wrap - might be handy when trading it also.
I’d always assumed it was coloured because the quantity of recycled plastic and other filler material (chalk?) meant it would be a funny colour otherwise. Never had a problem getting it recycled yet though (Solway Recycling here).

 

[renewablejohn]

Sounds like we need to have our own recycling facilities making into fence posts. Its not rocket science. Black cannot be changed into any other colour thats why no one wants it. But I am sure farmers will be happy with black fence posts.

 

[matthew]

Sounds like we need to have our own recycling facilities making into fence posts. Its not rocket science. Black cannot be changed into any other colour thats why no one wants it. But I am sure farmers will be happy with black fence posts.

They’ve got to be better than the new ‘tanalised’ ones which may last all of 4 years.
Could they be nailed or stapled though?

 

[Ted]

https://www.futurepost.co.nz/

 

[Farmer Roy]

Err, maybe wrap is black / dark to give it UV protection ?
Light coloured plastics tend to breakdown / become brittle fairly quickly in our high UV environment

 

[Wastexprt]

It's the contamination that's the issue. For far too long UK plc has relied on cheap recycling/disposal abroad. This option is now ending and has brought in to sharp focus how short of facilities we are. Slowly there are domestic options appearing, but what with planning, permitting and NIMBYs it's going to take a while.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

I used clear wrap 1 year a few years ago. MVF were (are?) selling it.
Wasn't overly impressed tbh, but I suspect like any colour differing qualities are possible. Just didn't seem particularly strong and I had too many damaged bales.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Err, maybe wrap is black / dark to give it UV protection ?
Light coloured plastics tend to breakdown / become brittle fairly quickly in our high UV environment

No doubt you're right, but the light green colour also available here is sold on the idea that it keeps the bale slightly cooler and so improves silage quality. I think they quoted some trial data to back this up.
Pluses and minuses with all of it no doubt.

 

[Farmer Roy]

No doubt you're right, but the light green colour also available here is sold on the idea that it keeps the bale slightly cooler and so improves silage quality. I think they quoted some trial data to back this up.
Pluses and minuses with all of it no doubt.

Having said that, our module wrap is yellow & doesn't seem to break down. But it only has to last a few months generally, but it is recommended to store the rolls out of sunlight, so it must deteriorate to some extent . . .
Module wrap is readily recyclable though & is actually worth money apparently

HATE seeing bale wrap blowing around on livestock farms

 

[powerontheland]

Clear stuff would be really handy; you could tell the state of the bale without cutting the wrap - might be handy when trading it also.
I’d always assumed it was coloured because the quantity of recycled plastic and other filler material (chalk?) meant it would be a funny colour otherwise. Never had a problem getting it recycled yet though (Solway Recycling here).

Tried some clear stuff last year, wasn’t all that impressed if I am honest.

 

[Ted M]

We've tried some white wrap this year and been quite impressed so far.
Was using white on the wrapper and then had to change to black which was stored under the baler side panels out of direct sunlight.
The white wrap having been in the sun was cool to the touch, the black you could barely put your hand on.
Got to be better for stability imo if it's avoiding constantly heating up and cooling down.

 

[matthew]

^^ That's interesting. Any difference in price?

 

[Ted M]

^^ That's interesting. Any difference in price?

Yes, £2 a roll more for white (and green)

 

[ED.D]

So about 10p a bale based on 6 layers less if only putting 4 layers on? Soon get that back on quality of feed, assuming it’s good stuff going into the bale in the first place.

 

[deleted user 837354]

It's the contamination that's the issue. For far too long UK plc has relied on cheap recycling/disposal abroad. This option is now ending and has brought in to sharp focus how short of facilities we are. Slowly there are domestic options appearing, but what with planning, permitting and NIMBYs it's going to take a while.

Just incinerate the stuff and stop throwing things in a hole in the ground!

 

[jondear]

Read article few weeks ago about clear wrap like cling film. It’s actually worth something so maybe free to dispose of. They are trying to get manufacturers to push it more.

We had some clear last year .It was good you could see it turning into silage .The bales look silver when in field.