Alberta’s farming community has been recognized for its remarkable participation in the Great Twine Round-Up, the province-wide contest to collect and recycle agricultural baler twine. Organized by Cleanfarms in collaboration with the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group, Alberta Beef Producers and support from the provincial government, the competition ran for seven months and concluded at the end of May 2025, drawing entries from across the region. Across all participants, approximately 16,500 kilograms of twine were gathered, a testament to the community’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

A series of prize draws were conducted during the campaign. The early-bird draw in January saw the Lethbridge Northern 4-H Beef Club walk away with $3,000. The final draw awarded $3,000 to three recipients: one went to a ranch in Special Areas 2, which chose to donate the funds to an Alberta-based charity, and the others were presented to Rocky South 4-H Beef Club and Hanna Rangeland 4-H Multi Club. 

Assar Grinde, a cow-calf producer serving as chair of the APRG, pointed out that encouraging folks to divert clean twine from landfills to recycling collection was no small feat. He noted that the high level of engagement from both individuals and 4-H clubs suggests that well-targeted outreach can drive meaningful environmental results.

In a broader move to bolster sustainability, Alberta’s government is inviting feedback on potentially bringing agricultural plastics under a formal regulatory framework. This public engagement process, launched on July 31, 2025 and open until September 12, 2025, seeks input on items such as which types of ag plastics to include, the timing of proposed measures, recovery targets, and service standards for collection.