INSIGHTS:
Understanding the Real Impact of Plastic Mulch
The Real Cost of Plastic Mulch Removal
Plastic mulch is purchased by the roll.
But the real cost appears after harvest.
Once the crop is finished, the plastic must be removed from the field.
• lifting plastic from the beds
• shaking soil and residue from the film
• collecting contaminated rolls
• loading containers or trailers
• transporting the waste to landfill
• paying disposal fees
What looks inexpensive at purchase often becomes one of the most labor-intensive operations of the season.
Across many farms, plastic mulch removal can take days or even weeks of labor.
Across North America, growers are beginning to ask the same question:
What actually remains in the soil after years of plastic mulch?
Understanding the Real Impact of Plastic Mulch
Labor & Economics
The real operational cost of installation, removal, transport, and disposal.
Topics include:
• mowing, lifting and removal
• labor requirements and timing
• transport and landfill costs
▶Understand the Cost
Soil & Microplastics
What actually remains in the soil after repeated seasons of plastic mulch.
Topics include:
• plastic fragmentation vs biodegradation
• how microplastics accumulate in soil
• long-term soil health considerations
▶ Explore Soil Impact
Field Experience
Real observations from farms using compostable mulch in production.
Topics include:
• peppers, tomatoes, strawberries
• melons, garlic and vegetable systems
• installation and end-of-season observations
▶See Real Field Systems
