Piles of old poly and dripper line 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 the hire of a Netafim Recoil machine for a fee of $100 per day, which recoils poly or dripperline into dense, donut-shaped bundles, and transports 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 in 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 a 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 kilometers of old 19-millimeter poly to be disposed of – in 12 days – and this was added to another 50km of poly and 20km of dripper line stored on the property from earlier conversions. It all added up to 27 tonnes.
The orchard converted to a complete Netafim dripper line and fertigation system, including filtration and irrigation control, matching the dripper line 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 the summer.
Recycled Resin
The recycled resin from Kyalite Pistachios’ old poly and dripper line was earmarked for plastics manufacturers. The orchard team always wanted to do something linked with recycling for the old poly and dripper line, 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 dripper line that they knew would have sat in the shed, as well as finding a recycler in the market and paying for freighting it off-farm.
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.
