An attempt to remove thousands of tonnes of unwanted plastic sheeting from Irish farms begins today in Co Offaly.
Farmers are being offered the service free of charge in what some farmers are calling "an amnesty".
The Department of the Environment, in conjunction with farm groups, has moved to ease the problem which has seen up to 23,000 tonnes of uncollected silage plastic build up on farms.
This is because the Farm Relief Service can no longer collect the plastic on which farmers have already paid a disposal levy.
The system, operating for over seven years, has been faltering because 30 per cent of farm plastic has been making its way illegally into the State from the North where no levy is paid.
This gives the imported sheeting, used mainly to cover silage pits and wrap silage bales, a commercial advantage over sheeting generated in the State. However it is not eligible for free collection.
While a sizable amount of plastic from farms was recycled up to recent years, the imported non-levied plastic has been building up on farms.
The backlog has been described as "an environmental time bomb" by Denis Naughten, Fine Gael's spokesman on agriculture.
He estimates there is at least 23,000 tonnes of uncollected plastic on Irish farms.
Farmers are believed to purchase over 25,000 tonnes of plastic covering every year.
In 2004, the last year for which official figures are available, some 8,500 tonnes of plastic were recycled, representing only 55 per cent of levied sheeting sold in that year.
Farmers who have paid a levy on plastic and who now have no collection service were angry recently when the Department of the Environment indicated that it would introduce a restructured system and a new levy.
However, prior to the introduction of the new system the department has planned a free scheme to clear the backlog of silage plastic.
This will initially be operated in Offaly, Clare, Galway, Mayo and then Waterford, followed by the rest of the State.
Local authority-controlled sites have been chosen following detailed discussions between Offaly IFA and Offaly County Council. These will be in Edenderry, Birr, Ferbane and Tullamore. They will be open on agreed dates starting today.