LETHBRIDGE, Alberta – A popular environmental contest is back for a second year, offering Alberta's agricultural community a chance to turn used farm plastic into cash for local causes. Cleanfarms, in partnership with the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG), has officially launched the 2026 edition of The Great Twine Round-Up.
Cash Prizes for Community and Environment
Starting January 19, 2026, farmers and ranchers across the province are encouraged to collect their clean, used plastic baler twine and bring it to designated recycling sites. For their efforts, participants can enter to win one of four $3,000 cash prizes, with the total prize pool reaching $12,000. Winners can direct their prize to a local 4-H club or an Alberta-based agricultural charity of their choice.
"The 2026 contest builds on the incredible momentum we saw last year, where participants successfully returned over 16,000 kg of used plastic baler twine for recycling," said Barry Friesen, Executive Director of Cleanfarms.
Assar Grinde, Chair of the APRG and a rancher himself, echoed the sentiment. "As a rancher, I know how important it is to leave the land better than we found it," Grinde stated. "We were incredibly impressed by the turnout last year, and we want to keep that momentum going."
How to Participate and Key Deadlines
The entry process is designed to be straightforward for busy agricultural producers. Participants must follow three simple steps:
- Bag clean plastic baler twine in official Cleanfarms bags.
- Drop off the bags at a participating Cleanfarms collection site.
- Submit the official entry form online at GreatTwineRoundUp.ca.
Contestants should be mindful of two important deadlines. An Early Bird Deadline is set for February 28, 2026, while the Final Deadline for all submissions is May 31, 2026. A complete list of collection sites and the full contest rules are available on the contest website.
From Twine to New Products: A Circular Solution
The core mission of The Great Twine Round-Up is to divert used agricultural plastics from landfills by providing a practical recycling solution tailored to rural communities. The collected twine doesn't go to waste; it is processed and recycled into various new products. This includes materials for automotive parts, greenhouse pots and trays, composite decking, and even dimensional lumber.
This initiative is a key component of the broader 'Alberta Ag-Plastic. Recycle It!' pilot project. The project is led by the multi-stakeholder APRG and operated by Cleanfarms, with funding provided by the Government of Alberta and administered by Alberta Beef Producers. The group is now focused on transitioning the pilot into a permanent program and exploring recycling solutions for other agricultural plastics like bale wrap and silage film.
Cleanfarms is a national industry stewardship organization that recovers and recycles agricultural plastics, packaging, and products. It is funded by members across multiple agri-industry sectors. The Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG), formed in 2017, includes representatives from producer groups, retailers, municipalities, and recyclers dedicated to finding solutions for farm plastic waste.
