M.D. supports agriculture plastics recycling; invasive species education

By Rob Vogt – Local Press Writer
The Municipal District of Willow Creek will commit $2,500 to agricultural plastic recycling and invasive species education.
At its Dec. 14 meeting, the M.D. council reviewed a report from administration stating during the Nov. 23 meeting of the M.D.’s Agricultural Service Board, service board members reviewed the sponsorship and workshop budget line items, and discussion took place.
A Cleanfarms Ag Plastics Recycling project may involve costs due to inappropriately packaged plastics. Preventative measures will be in place to ensure these costs are minimal, ideally non-existent.
The bronze Alberta Invasive Species Council partnership level awards three free memberships. Partnership with the group would include a mention of the M.D. on the partners page of the Alberta Invasive Species Council website.
As part of the funding for the events and collaboration the South West Invasive Managers facilitates, sponsorship is encouraged by their members to continue. This allows for the sharing of resources and information that pertains to the southwestern landscape. There are two events planned for 2023. One is on preventative invasive species management for land managers and the second on actual herbicide application for acreage owners.
Background information explained the Alberta Ag-Plastic Recycle it! has a pilot project with collection sites that will offer free drop-off of properly prepared grain bags, which are machine rolled and secured, as well as clean bagged twine to producers. A collection site may choose to collect both or only one of the program materials. Collection bags for twine, communications materials and site signage are provided by Cleanfarms.
Collection sites are required to keep materials separate until a truckload of material is accumulated, which is approximately 120 rolled grain bags. Cleanfarms will then coordinate loading and shipping to a recycling facility.
Cleanfarms is a non-profit environmental stewardship organization, working collaboratively with its members, partner agencies, and the government to ensure Canadian farmers can actively contribute to a healthy environment and a sustainable future. Their programs create meaningful change, and offer a tangible way to address agricultural waste management and resource in the community
The Alberta Invasive Species Council is a not-for-profit group that sets out to educate and inform Albertans about the invasive species that have devastating effects on the environment, economy, and society. The Alberta Invasive Species Council deals with invasives in all forms, from zebra mussels and wild boar, to spotted knapweed or Prussian carp.
Additionally, they provide a variety of programs including, but not limited to, biocontrol release programs for control of invasive vegetation such as leafy spurge. Programs like this are essential for integrated pest management. They are an excellent source for fact sheets and educational material as well.
The South West Invasive Managers collaborate to bring six municipal districts/counties together with the Alberta government, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Parks Canada, and the Alberta Invasive Species Council with the main objective to bring awareness to land managers of invasive species management.
Council then agreed to approve:
• $1000 to be allocated for the Ag Plastics Recycling Program if the program is finalized to cover unanticipated costs that may be involved with running the program;
• $1000 to pay the bronze level sponsorship fee for the agricultural service board to the Alberta Invasive Species Council;
• the increase from $300 to $500 for sponsorship of the South West Invasive Managers group.