Grain Bag Recycling Incentive
Res #: 18-25A
Number: 18
Year: 2025
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment
WHEREAS many farmers are using plastic grain bags for temporary storage.
WHEREAS there remains no onus or responsibility for the first sellers of grain bags to receive the bags back where they were sold.
WHEREAS chemical retailers are required to charge a deposit on chemical containers and return the deposit when the container is returned to the dealer, encouraging the return rather than improper disposal or storage.
WHEREAS grain bag distributors must operate or be a part of a Product Stewardship Program approved by the Minister of Environment.
BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial government to make a portion of the recycling fees collected by grain bag distributors and other grain bag collector programs refundable once the grain bags are returned from where they were originally purchased.
Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment
April 17, 2025
Thank you for communicating the recent SARM resolution calling for implementing a deposit refund system for grain bags. I appreciate SARM’s commitment to environmental sustainability and proper management of agricultural waste.
The Ministry of Environment oversees the grain bag recycling program operated by Cleanfarms, in accordance with The Agricultural Packaging Product Waste Stewardship Regulations. The program was created to address concerns around improper disposal of used grain bags, such as burning, which can have harmful environmental impacts. While the program encourages recycling these bags, the responsibility for them remains with the end user once they are no longer in use.
Since the introduction of the grain bag recycling program, Cleanfarms has made significant strides to enhance accessibility and convenience for farmers. The number of collection locations across Saskatchewan has increased to 49, and farmers can now return their grain bags to any of these locations, regardless of where they purchased them. For larger operations, Cleanfarms also offers on-farm collection services for those with a significant number of bags to dispose of.
The goal of the program is to make the recycling process as accessible, efficient, and effective as possible for all farmers. The program does not use a deposit refund system at this time primarily due to challenges posed by the large size of grain bags, duration of their use, and the possibility of them being altered. Furthermore, deposit refund systems are costly and administratively complex, placing additional burdens on both producers and the recycling program itself.
The Ministry of Environment provides guidance through the “Don’t Burn Grain Bags” fact sheet, which outlines the environmental hazards of burning grain bags and the enforcement actions available for sites where contamination occurs.
The ministry does monitor return rates for the program through review of Clean Farms annual reporting requirements which is an indicator of the effectiveness of the program. Should concerns with return rates be identified we will encourage Clean Farms to look at ways to improve return rates.
Thank you for your commitment to waste reduction in Saskatchewan. Your support for sustainable agricultural practices and proper management of agricultural packaging waste is appreciated.
Hon. Travis Keisig – Minister of Environment, Government of Saskatchewan
