The four winners of the 2026 Great Twine Round-Up contest have been selected, recognizing Alberta farmers and 4-H clubs for collecting and returning used agricultural plastic baler twine for recycling. The contest, part of the ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ pilot program, awarded a total of $12,000 in prizes.
Contest Details and Participation
The Great Twine Round-Up ran for five months, ending on May 31, 2026, and saw 76 entries from 17 unique participants across all categories. Each entry represented one bag of used agricultural baler twine kept out of the environment and recycled into new products such as car parts and dimensional lumber.
The initiative is led by the multi-stakeholder Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG), with funds granted by the Government of Alberta and administered by Alberta Beef Producers. An early-bird prize was drawn in February, and a final prize draw occurred at the end of the contest period to select the remaining winners.
Prize Distribution and Winners
Four prizes were awarded: three to winning 4-H clubs and one to an independent entrant’s Alberta-based agricultural non-profit or charity of choice. The individual category prize of $3,000 was awarded to the MTM Agricultural Society. The 4-H Club category prizes of $3,000 each went to Rocky South 4-H Beef Club and Hanna Rangeland 4-H Multi Club. The early-bird 4-H Club prize of $3,000 was awarded to Lethbridge Northern 4-H Beef Club.
Community and Environmental Impact
“The continued engagement from the Alberta ag community in this contest reflects the value Albertans place on taking care of their environment,” said Shane Hedderson, Cleanfarms Interim Executive Director. “Every individual who took time to collect and drop off bags of used baler twine for recycling is a leader in agricultural recycling, and we’re thrilled to have been able to give back with cash prizes for good causes thanks to our partnership with the APRG.”
Future Plans and Program Goals
“The 2026 edition of the Great Twine Round-Up continued to provide opportunities for farmers to conveniently participate in agricultural recycling,” said Assar Grinde, cow/calf producer and Chair of the APRG. “It’s inspiring to see so many members of the Alberta ag community of all ages doing their part to keep twine out of the environment. We look forward to continuing the Great Twine Round-Up contest with Cleanfarms again in the fall of 2026.”
The Great Twine Round-Up and ‘Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!’ program are part of Cleanfarms’ broader national efforts to help Canadian farmers manage ag plastics responsibly, keeping them out of landfill and the environment. To learn more about ag plastic recycling programs and how to participate next year, visit cleanfarms.ca.
About the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group
The Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG) formed in 2016 to find solutions for agricultural plastics. The APRG is made up of partners including commodity groups, retailers, municipalities, academic institutions, recyclers, and farmers. It is now focused on the transition of the pilot into a permanent program as well as exploring solutions for other ag plastics such as bale wrap and silage plastic. More information is available at aprg.ca.
