AKP Phnom Penh, 11 June, 2025--
A pioneering Australian innovation is turning one of agriculture's most persistent plastic waste problems into a sustainable resource, marking a significant advance in sustainable farming practices.

The technology, developed by researchers at La Trobe University in Bendigo, Australia, transforms contaminated bale twine into durable, market-ready products using a cost-efficient melting machine, according to a release from the university on Tuesday.

Developed with Ritchie Technology, the compact melting machine enables farmers to recycle contaminated bale twine, normally destined for landfill or burning, into useful products like planters, furniture, and fence posts, said La Trobe University Associate Professor Ing Kong, who led the project.

The team demonstrated that bale twine can be efficiently melted and reformed into durable products, providing a closed-loop recycling system that reduces plastic waste and supports a circular economy, Kong said.

William Ritchie, CEO of Ritchie Technology, called the innovation a "triple win" for farmers, the environment, and the economy, cutting farmers' waste disposal costs and environmental impact, while also creating new opportunities for selling recycled materials back to manufacturers.

As agriculture consumes millions of kilometers of bale twine each year worldwide, the researchers plan to adapt the technology for other plastic farm wastes, like silage wrap and irrigation tubing, to enhance both environmental and economic sustainability, according to the study published in the journal Recycling.

AKP-Xinhua