Our silage is stored in bunker silos. Since bunker silos only consist of the cement base and cement walls, we need something to cover the feed to prevent spoilage, animals getting into it, or the wind blowing the feed away. To cover the feed when it is in the bunker silo, we use heavy plastic held down with recycled car sidewall tires. The plastic works like a Ziploc bag, sealing the feed into the bunker silo and keeping it fresh.
The biggest challenge with using the plastic is getting rid of it. As we take feed off of the bunker silo, we cut the plastic away in long strips. Before last spring, we would put the plastic in the regular dumpster, and it would go to the landfill. Obviously, this isn’t an ideal situation.
Last spring, we implemented a new program on the farm that recycles the plastic that comes off of the bunker silos. Revolution Plastics began a plastic recycling program last year. They leave a dumpster on your farm, and then come and empty the dumpster on a regular basis. When the plastic is picked up, they bring it to the Green County landfill, where it is made into bales. The bales of plastic are then hauled to Arkansas, where the plastic is washed and recycled into trash can liners. With this program, about 125 tons of plastic are kept out of landfills every week. In Wisconsin, they are collecting over one million pounds of plastic every month!
We are always happy to work with companies that are doing their part in being environmentally sustainable. Caring for the environment is one of the top priorities on Majestic Crossing Dairy, and this program is a big step forward in environmental sustainability not only in Wisconsin, but across the country.