Recycling program a ‘no-brainer’ for old orchard poly dripperline
PILES of old poly and dripperline for years have been an all-too-familiar sight in the horticulture industry, however it’s good to see the growing focus on sustainability is also targeting this area and we are pleased various operators are taking up our recycling option to assist this.
The Netafim Recoil recycling program incorporates hire of a Netafim Recoil machine for a fee of $100 per day, which recoils poly or dripperline into dense, donut-shaped bundles, and transport to our recycling partners. The high quality recycled resin, if suitable, is used in the production of our ‘Regen’ irrigation products as part of a closed-loop manufacturing system, or by other manufacturers of plastic products, providing a circular economy model to tackle unwanted plastic accumulating in the landscape.
Kyalite Pistachios, Sunraysia, Southern NSW
Kyalite Pistachios has a 400-hectare orchard near Kyalite, which is situated on the southern New South Wales border near Tooleybuc and south of Balranald.
Plantings at the ‘Rivernook’ orchard commenced from the mid-80s, with later significant developments occurring over 2006-07, in 2016 and again last year, on the way to expanding to a 450ha capacity. The pistachio trees produce a solid harvest from around six to seven years-of-age and mature yields from the age of 12.
Irrigation conversion
Kyalite Pistachios earlier last year was converting a final area of under-tree sprinkler irrigation to dripperline and when it was considering a sustainable solution for its disposal, Netafim’s recovery and recycling program largely became a “no-brainer’’. The conversion amounted to 230 kilometres of old 19-millimetre poly to be disposed of – in 12 days – and this was added to another 50km of poly and 20km of dripperline stored on the property from earlier conversions. It all added up to 27 tonnes.
The orchard converted to a complete Netafim dripperline and fertigation system, including filtration and irrigation control, matching the dripperline used across the remainder of the property. It delivers 12 to 14 megalitres/ha over a season to the pistachios, incorporating daily irrigation and fertigation over summer.
Andrew Bowring, Kyalite Pistachios, says without the Netafim Recoil machine to help dispose of poly and dripperline, they would have had to hire or build a machine that later would have sat in the shed, as well as find a recycler and pay for freighting it off the farm.
Recycled resin
The recycled resin from Kyalite Pistachios’ old poly and dripperline was earmarked for plastics manufacturers. The orchard team always wanted to do something linked with recycling for the old poly and dripperline, but previously it saw no easy option to get it off-farm. They now feel very positive to be “doing the right thing’’ and planning a sustainability pathway.
They recognised the Netafim Recoil program was the leading solution. Without it, they were going to be faced with hiring or building a machine to help dispose of the poly and dripperline that they know would have sat in the shed, as well as finding a recycler in the market and paying for freighting it off-farm.
Poly bundles loaded to specific guidelines to ensure maximum transport capacity and easy recycler handling.
Netafim Recoil machines
Kyalite Pistachios liked the fact the machines are purpose-built and come complete with guards and procedures to follow, easing its concerns with operators. The machines are based in areas where there is high demand for the service across Australia and they are available to hire through approved Netafim resellers. We also track all consignments and recycling outcomes, culminating in a credible Certificate of Recycling for service users.
Pictured: shows the successful recoiling of old 19-millimetre poly using the Netafim Recoil machine at Kyalite Pistachios’ ‘Rivernook’ property, situated in the Sunraysia region near the southern New South Wales border.
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