The federal government is pumping more than 4.5 million dollars for 5 projects to improve the recycling of plastic waste on the farm.

More than one million dollars will go to Cleanfarms, a non-profit industry organization.

Cleanfarms executive director Barry Friesen says the funds will expand the recycling of plastic waste on Canadian farms.

He says cleanfarms collects and recycles farm chemical containers and the new funding will support recycling of plastic baler twine.

He says there was a pilot project for twine and the funding will turn the collection of twine into a full time project.

The federal government is also pumping one million dollars into 3 companies and 500 thousand dollars into a fourth company to develop bioplastic which are degradable products made from straw, poultry feathers and wood.

Two Saskatchewan based companies are part of the announcement.

Titan Clean Energy Projects based at Craik will receive up to 1 million dollars to test food-grade quality bioplastic for fruit or vegetable containers.

The containers biodegrade more quickly in landfills.

Red Leaf Pulp in Saskatoon will receive up to 495-thousand dollars to support research and production trials for a straw pulp bio-polymer.

This would replace plastic and Styrofoam packaging.
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