What a Waste: Tackling On-Farm Waste from Plastics to Carcasses
On September 17, Farming Forward hosted What a Waste at Blue Ridge Hall and online, bringing together producers, municipalities, and ag professionals to dig into one of agriculture’s toughest challenges: waste management. From plastics to carcass disposal and wildlife conflict, the morning seminar highlighted both practical solutions and the regulations producers need to know.
Managing Agricultural Plastics
First up, Assar Grinde, a cattle producer from Ponoka County and representative with the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG), shared his experience leading Alberta’s ag plastics recycling initiative. After years of stockpiling silage plastic, Grinde helped drive the creation of the APRG and the province-wide pilot that now supports 52 collection partners.
The pilot has already diverted millions of kilograms of grain bags and twine from landfills. With Alberta’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, there is momentum to move beyond pilots toward a permanent program. That means farmers could soon see handling fees built into the purchase price of products like grain bags, twine, and eventually bale wrap, ensuring disposal costs are covered up front.
Grinde also highlighted innovative alternatives, like Nature’s Net Wrap—a compostable net wrap being tested by Alberta farmers and researchers—which could reduce microplastics on fields and in cattle feed.
Resources:
Agricultural Plastics Survey - Alberta Government (Closes October 3, 2025)
Carcass Disposal Rules and Realities
Jason Moodie, Livestock Inspector with Alberta Agriculture, walked participants through Alberta’s Dead Animal Regulation and the practical realities of carcass disposal. Farmers have seven days to dispose of dead animals, with approved options including burial, composting, rendering, and natural disposal under specific conditions.
Moodie emphasized that the best option depends on the situation — factors like season, soil type, proximity to water, and scale all influence what works on a given farm. Composting is widely used and effective when managed properly, but burial, rendering, or other methods may be more practical in different circumstances. What’s not an option, he stressed, is burning plastics or carcasses in open fires, which is both ineffective and illegal under Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.
Resources:
Wildlife Conflict and the Cost of Poor Carcass Management
Louise Liebenberg, rancher, producer, and wildlife mitigation specialist with Grazerie, shared stories from her own operation where improper carcass disposal unintentionally supported a wolf pack on her ranch. She stressed that carcasses are one of the strongest wildlife attractants, and that removing them quickly is critical to reduce risk.
From her experience, composting is the easiest and most effective on-farm solution, provided it’s managed properly. A well-built compost pile can make carcasses disappear quickly, reduce predator pressure by up to 50%, and help avoid conflicts that drive up costs for the whole community.
Her takeaway for producers: poor waste management doesn’t just affect the environment, it can escalate predator conflict and increase costs across the community.
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