Agricultural Plastic Drip Tape

COLLECTION AND BUNDLING GUIDELINES

New Jersey farmers may continue to recycle drip irrigation tape at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex. However, the collection of mulch film, silage bags, peat moss bags and crop cover recycling program has been eliminated because the plastic contains too much foreign material.

Growers who generate mulch film and other soiled agricultural plastics must take their material to an authorized solid waste disposal facility. Under New Jersey solid waste regulations, the material cannot be stockpiled on the farm. The vehicles used to transport the soiled agricultural plastics to a solid waste disposal facility must be licensed by DEP.

Farmers are encouraged to maintain a quality control program when preparing the drip irrigation tape for storage or delivery to the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex in Deerfield Township. In order to market the film, the Cumberland County Improvement Authority (CCIA) must be able to provide an ample supply of quality material. The success and future of this program lies on the shoulders of the farmer participants and their cooperation. The Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex will continue to accept farmers’ drip irrigation tape charging farmers a fee of $30 per ton, an almost 50 percent savings in landfill tipping fees.

The vehicles used to transport the drip tape to be recycled are not required to be licensed by DEP so long as the material is transported directly to the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex.

LOCATION:
Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex
169 Jesse Bridge Road
Deerfield, New Jersey
Located off Route 55 Exit 29 (Sherman Avenue Route 552)

CONTACT:
Dennis DeMatte, Jr. (856) 825-3700 or ddematte@ccia-net.com

Prior to delivery of the agricultural plastics, all growers MUST call the CCIA to establish an account with the CCIA. Growers using a licensed solid waste hauler MUST inform the CCIA prior to delivery in an effort to maintain proper billing and documentation.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday-Friday 7:30 AM - 3:30 AM
Saturday by appointment only

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS:
When entering the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex, please be sure to identify the material as drip tape. This is necessary because there is another agricultural plastics program and the drip tape must be kept at a separate tipping area.

TIPPING FEE
$30/per ton

QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES
• A farmer’s quality control of the agricultural plastics is probably the most important
variable to a successful recycling program. Not all agricultural plastics are made of the
same plastic resins. Only low-density polyethylene drip irrigation tape will be accepted.
If you are unsure of the type of plastic you have, contact the CCIA for guidance.
• Once the drip irrigation tape is removed, shake it to remove the contaminants (soil, 
plant material, mulch plastic, twine). Excessive contaminants could cause the material
to be rejected at the collection site. Minimizing these contaminants will lower the tipping
fee for recycling. Drip tape should be rolled up and tied with ONLY drip tape. DO NOT
use twine, wire, etc. If any other material is used to tie the bundle, the load will be
rejected.
• Store the drip irrigation tape so it is not exposed to sunight that will further degrade the
material.
• Keep the material as dry as possible because moisture will add to the weight of
material and increase the cost of recycling to the farmer. If the material cannot be
stored indoors, cover it with plastic.
• Keep the plastic as clean as possible.

The Authority markets this material lose. 

Bales of drip tape weigh approximately 1,700 pounds.

The drip tape has a melt index (flow rate) = .2

The drip tape has a density (weight of material relative to water) water = 1
Drip tape density = .943 – material will float (material has carbon black)