Baling Twine Recycling in Montana

Mandie Reed highlights the benefits of correct baling twine disposal to livestock and the environment.

Many Montanans feed livestock or horses hay, especially during the winter months. Most hay is held together with baling twine, which is often a polypropylene plastic rope. Polypropylene plastic is a non-renewable resource that remains in the environment for decades. In addition to persisting in the environment, loose baling twine can cause other inadvertent problems, especially for wildlife and livestock.

Ospreys, ravens and other birds gather loose twine and use it to line their nests where both adult and young birds can become entangled in the twine increasing the likelihood of injury or even death due to suffocation, starvation, or infection. Twine can also be a danger for deer, elk, and antelope if it becomes tangled around their hooves or in their antlers or horns.

Loose baling twine can also have an adverse effect on the livestock industry, especially sheep. Montana is known for the high-value wool produced in the state. Loose twine fibers readily stick and embed in the wool, significantly reducing the value. Twine fibers are very difficult to remove once they become embedded.

Unfortunately, there are limited options for disposing of baling twine in an environmentally-friendly way. However, like other items made from polypropylene plastic, baling twine can be recycled. The Twine Collection and Recycling Site (TCRS) was started in 2019 in Laurel, Montana, to provide an environmentally safe and convenient way for people to collect and recycle baling twine. The site is maintained by volunteers of the Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society.

Polypropylene baling twine that is 90% clean and dry can be gathered and delivered to the TCRS, located 2.5 miles north of Laurel on Buffalo Trail Road. Small deliveries can be dropped off in the outside bin (access is through the pedestrian gate) or appointments can be made by phone for larger deliveries. Once enough twine is gathered to fill a semi-trailer, about 38,000 pounds, the twine is transported to I90 Reprocessing in Minnesota. A full load of clean, dry twine will pay the cost of loading and shipping, so it is critical the twine is not wet or contaminated. Once delivered, the twine is reprocessed into beads which are recycled into outdoor tanks, flowerpots, bins and other #5 polypropylene plastic products.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

TCRS phone: 1-406-591-8606 TCRS email: yvas.twine.recycle@gmail.com Map and additional information: yvaudubon.org

Mandie Reed is the MSU Extension agent in Wheatland County.