Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen and Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely were in Bashaw on Friday, Oct. 23, to tour the PolyAg Recycling plant.
PolyAg Recycling Ltd. recycles agricultural waste plastics such as grain bags, processing them into Post Consumer Resin (PCR).
“I’m so proud of the work this group of entrepreneurs have done to take a waste product from our farming community and turn it into a form that can be repurposed,” said Lovely in an email.
“I’m even more proud of the fact they have chosen Bashaw, the centre of the agriculture community and provided employment opportunity for our locals. I wish them every success.”
The three partners of PolyAg Recycling started construction on the the former A&B Oilfield property in fall, 2019.
READ MORE: Bashaw picked for exciting recycling opportunity
PolyAg issued a press release recently, detailing some of its operations.
The building is a 10,600 square foot building on 3.2 acres, with 10 full-time employees.
The recycling plant process takes the rolled, or baled, feed stock and shreds the material into a small flake, approximately 10 cm in size.
After screening the flakes to remove residual grain and dirt, they are passed through a higher speed friction washer and system to further remove any contaminants.
The flakes are then dried and then melted into strands and cut into small PCR pellets.
PolyAg is working with various manufacturers to explore uses for the pellets, and sell the pellets in North America and global markets.
PCR can be used in film bags, bin liners, construction materials, decking and packaging products.