The Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) has confirmed to Agriland that there will be no increases to either the levy or collection charges for farm plastic recycling for 2026.

The minimum charge at IFFPG bring centres this year will remain unchanged at €60 for a half tonne.

In cases where a farmer decides to opt for on-farm collection, the minimum call out charge this year will be €120 per half tonne, the same amount as 2025.

IFFPG also confirmed that the recycling levy, which is charged to companies who place farm plastics products on the Irish market, will remain unchanged this year at €286/t.

Under the scheme, producers pay the environmental protection levy to IFFPG based on the quantity of product they place on the market.

Farm plastic

IFFPG operates Ireland's approved farm plastics recycling compliance scheme.

The scheme is funded through a combination of the recycling levy which is charged to its members (companies who place farm plastics products on the market), and weight based collection charges paid by farmers.

The recycling levy makes up around 70% of IFFPG income, while the collection charge paid by farmers makes up the remaining 30%.

In 2023, operational costs for IFFPG were €7.7 million, this rose to €9 million in 2024. Costs are likely to be €8.5 million in 2025.

In November, the IFFPG told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food that it expected no increase in its levy or collection charges this year.

Following the completion of its latest national contractor tendering process, IFFPG selected 5 contractors in 2025 to provide a nationwide farm plastics recycling service.

IFFPG collected 39,000t of farm plastics for recycling in 2023, 43,000t in 2024 and 40,000t in 2025.

"The scheme is consistently achieving a 95% plus recycling level," Liam Moloney, general manager of IFFPG, told Agriland.