REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) announced on April 20 that the federal and provincial governments have committed C$200,000 to the continuation of the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project in 2015. The program collects both grain bags and twine province-wide.

The new funding will allow Simply Ag Solutions to meet the strong demand for the program. In 2014-15 Simply Ag Solutions shipped 1,871,000 pounds of plastic from their 13 collection sites.

Since its inception in 2011, the Grain Bag Recycling Pilot Project has recycled approximately 2,421,000 pounds of plastic (7,345 bags). The Ministry of Environment continues to work on the creation of regulations that will see the establishment of a permanent industry-led recycling program in the future.

"Grain bag recycling increased significantly last year, shipping three times more plastic than in the three previous years of the project combined. The project is doing what it is designed to do and the increased uptake demonstrates the commitment of Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers to maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment," said Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture Lyle Stewart