Since the film-recycling program was initiated in 1997, growers in New Jersey have recycled more than 7 million pounds of used film. During 2009, 935,920 pounds of film were recycled – a 49 percent increase over 2008 – the largest volume of nursery and greenhouse film recycled in a single year since the program was started.
Two regional sites accept film year-round -- the Burlington County Occupational Training Center in Mt. Holly and the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex in Deerfield. Out-of-state growers can take their used film to the Mt. Holly site, but the Cumberland site only accepts New Jersey growers’ film.
Both white and clear nursery film and clear multi-season (two-year, three-year, and four-year) greenhouse covers can be recycled. Film must be free of lathing, staples and saran. Loads containing other agricultural plastics, such as bags, mulch film, shrink film, stretch film, drip irrigation or ground cover film, will be rejected at the collection sites.
The department also offers year-round mulch film and drip irrigation tape recycling, seasonal plastic pesticide container recycling and information on nursery pots, plastic flats, trays, and cell packs recycling.