By Debbie James

Farmers in Wales have been left with no means of recycling their waste plastic after the only company dedicated to agri-plastics collection in Wales suspended its service because it says it is no longer economic.

Birch Farm Plastics, near Swansea, has halted its poly-waste collection service until the end of the year because of charges at a local recycling plant.

Potential long-term solutions to the issue of waste farm plastics include the use of biodegradable materials and a supply chain that pays to have plastics recycled but in the meantime farmers leaders say emergency measures are needed to help farmers recycle their waste.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) wants urgent action from the Welsh Government before tonnes of bale wrap, silage bags and other plastics accumulate on farms.

FUW president Glyn Roberts accused the Welsh Government of washing its hands of the “potential time-bomb of rubbish’’.

Birch Farm Plastics has been collecting waste plastic for recycling for 30 years but it has halted the service until the end of the year.

The FUW said this had left farmers without any means of recycling their waste.

Mr Roberts said the industry was facing a major problem that was not in its control.

Farmers can only store plastic on farm for up to 12 months before it must be properly disposed of.

The Welsh Government said farm waste disposal was a matter between farmers, the collectors of plastic film waste and the plants that can recycle it.

“Farmers have a responsibility to ensure their plastic is disposed of correctly,’’ it said.

The government has committed to a zero-waste policy and aims to increase the proportion of rubbish it recycles to 70 per cent by 2024-25.