Reducing Farm Plastic Use

Where does plastic show up on a small farm?

Take a walk with a notebook and a large box. Note every item that is plastic and ask whether it is single use, reusable or a long-lasting tool. Most farms find that a few categories account for most of the pile.

The usual suspects are feed and bedding bags, baler twine and net wrap, black mulch film, drip tape, pots and trays, buckets, and packaging from supplies. Hoses and fencing are plastic too, but they last, so they deserve a different plan than items you throw away every month.

Be honest about what you find. Many people are surprised by how much of the plastic comes from just two or three purchases, and that is good news because it tells you where to focus effort.

• Feed and shavings bags
• Twine and wrap from hay
• Mulch film and row cover
• Nursery pots and seed trays
• Packaging from supply orders

What is the easiest place to start?

Start with the plastic you buy repeatedly. Ask your feed store whether bulk feed delivery or refillable bins are possible, since fewer small bags means less plastic and often fewer trips. Buying fewer, larger packages can also reduce handling, though only if you can store feed dry and pest-free.

Then look at reuse. Feed sacks can carry compost, line brush piles, or hold bedding, and sturdy buckets have a dozen second jobs. The goal is not to hoard, so set a limit on how many you keep and send the rest to the proper waste stream.

Ask neighbors if they would split a bulk delivery or share a reusable container system. Cooperating with other small farms lowers the plastic and the effort for everyone.

Can I replace mulch film and plastic row cover?

Replacement options depend on your crop and climate. Living mulch, straw, leaves, cardboard and wood chips can handle many weed and moisture tasks in a garden, and they break down into the soil instead of into tatters in the field.

Film still has a role for heat-loving crops and for early season warming, so decide by job, not by principle. If you use film, plan the removal and disposal before you lay it. Ask your extension office about local collection or recycling programs, since they differ widely by region.

Keep a note of which crops did well under which mulch, so next year you are choosing from experience instead of guesswork. Weed pressure, soil moisture and labor all differ from farm to farm.

• Use organic mulches where weed control is the main goal
• Keep film clean and pull it intact at season end
• Ask about local farm plastic recycling before buying

What about biodegradable products?

Labels such as biodegradable, compostable and soil-biodegradable do not mean the same thing, and what happens in your soil depends on temperature, moisture and microbes. Some products are meant for industrial composting only.

Read the product information carefully, and ask your extension office or a certifier if you sell organic produce, because rules about allowed mulch products are specific. Treat any claim you cannot verify with caution.

Another point is cleanliness. Soil-covered or mixed plastics are harder to recycle, so a quick shake and sort at the end of the season can make the difference between recycling and landfill.

How do I dispose of what I cannot avoid?

Burning plastic on the farm releases smoke and residues that are bad for you, your animals and your neighbors, and burning rules are local anyway. Taking plastic to a transfer station, recycling center or farm collection event is the safer path.

Call your county solid waste office and ask what plastics they accept, whether they need to be clean and dry, and whether any farm-specific programs exist. Keep a dedicated bin so clean plastic does not mix with trash.

Store plastic you plan to reuse out of the sun, since ultraviolet light makes it brittle. Material that crumbles in the field is more likely to end up in your soil.

How do I keep going without getting overwhelmed?

Choose one category per season. This year it might be feed bags, next year it might be seedling trays. Track what you bought before and after so you can see the change, and count the savings in time and hauling as well as in plastic.

Be honest about tradeoffs. A reusable product that breaks in a year may be worse than a durable plastic one. Look for tools that last, repair them, and pass them along when you are done.

Finally, share what works. Local farm groups and extension offices often welcome ideas from small growers and can connect you with collection programs.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.