The Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) claims UK farmers are burning or burying plastics used in food production on their land despite it being illegal.
A new report by EIA, Cultivating Plastic Part 3 – Agriplastic waste mismanagement and criminality, states that British farmers are burning agricultural plastics on site, despite the practice being banned in England and Wales in 2006 and in Scotland since 2019.
The report says the reason for this practice could be the “high costs” of agricultural plastic waste collection and recycling and a lack of enforcement by the Environment Agency (EA). The EIA, which investigate and campaign against environmental crime, also says the lack of mandatory reporting of how much agricultural plastic a farm has plays a role.
Reacting to the report, NFU (National Farmers’ Union) environment forum chair Richard Bramley, told Circular Online: “British farmers take their environmental responsibilities very seriously and managing plastic waste is part of this.
“While there is still more work to do, there are many examples of good practice where farmers are using alternative sustainable materials or recycling agricultural plastics and the NFU is working with the government and industry to develop further solutions. In the meantime, it’s vital that any other plastic waste is disposed of through the correct channels.”
British farmers take their environmental responsibilities very seriously and managing plastic waste is part of this.
EIA Senior Campaigner Lauren Weir commented: “There are a number of drivers as to why the burning of agriplastic (agricultural plastic) waste still takes place in the UK. This includes the EA not having sufficient capacity to monitor this illegal practice and regulatory loopholes meaning it is easy for it to go undetected.
“This is a significant problem for our environment and health, as the burning of agriplastics, especially PVC, releases incredibly toxic chemicals.”
Cultivating Plastic Part 3 is the latest in a series of four new EIA reports about agricultural plastics.
