The Rural Voice, 2006-08, Page 23Still, having a product on the
market is the culmination of a four or
five year effort. The first step was to
set up a collection system for the bale
wrap.
An early supporter was the
Agricultural Adaptation Council.
"They're our heroes," says
Sparks. They've been involved from
the beginning, providing a $42,000
grant for a three year program to set
up the collection system.
The first municipality on board
was Township of Southgate under
Mayor Don Lewis, which began
collecting bale wrap in 2002.
Municipalities in Grey and Bruce
jumped on board immediately, says
Sparks, because they realized the
enormity of the problem of dealing
with bale wrap.
When the first distribution
sites were set up, adds
Sparks, there were some
farmers driving for an hour and a half
to drop off the plastic because
previously they had been burning it,
not only polluting the air but leaving
a residue that had to be buried.
Part of setting up the collection
system has been a public education
process, says Lackenbauer, attending
meetings to tell farmers how to clean,
store and deliver the plastic. They ask
that farmers, for instance, cut the
wrapping for each individual bale,
shake it clean, then ball it up. If
longer pieces of plastic come to the
plant workers must first cut them to
smaller dimensions before they can
be shredded.
Lackenbauer singles out the
Ontario Federation of Agriculture as
being "fabulous" in its support along
the way, noting OFA has worked to
encourage farmers and municipalities
to get involved in recycling bale
wrap and promoting the Baleboard
product that is the result.
Today there are 28 sites accepting
bale wrap for recycling with Grey
County topping the list with 10
depots, Perth with six, Bruce with
five and Huron with three. Most
charge a tipping fee to farmers who
deliver plastic.
There's a commitment on the part
of a municipality that decides to
accept bale wrap. Think Plastics asks
for the construction of a 30 -by -30 -
foot concrete or asphalt pad on which
to store the plastic, with a four -foot
concrete wall across the back.
TOP DRY
HOW DOES THE
G. S. I. SYSTEM WORK?
1) Grain is loaded into the upper chamber
of the bin, and dried as a batch
2) When the grain is dry, the burner
automatically shuts off
3) The operator lowers the dump chutes
with a winch, and the grain falls to the
lower part of the bin for cooling/storage
4) The dump chutes are cranked closed
and another batch is loading into the
drying chamber
WHY IS A TOP DRY A BETTER INVESTMENT
THAN A STIRRING MACHINE?
1) LOWER OPERATING COSTS
• Uses much Tess fuel because it recycles cooling air through
the drying zone
' No gear boxes, motors, or bearings inside the bin
• 100% galvanized construction inside and outside
2) FASTER DRYING
• 2 to 3 times faster per horsepower than a stirring machine
because of lower grain depth (30")
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AUGUST 2006 19