In the Chaco mountain range, an area marked by agricultural expansion and lack of infrastructure, an initiative with real environmental and social impact emerged.
The company Pampa Limpia Argentina Sostenible (PLAS) is dedicated to recycling rural plastic waste. This is material that is usually burned or buried.
In addition, the focus is on the circular economy, as they generate jobs, income, and reintegrate raw materials in favor of planet conservation.
How PLAS works to solve the problem of rural plastic waste
In July 2021, three young entrepreneurs founded PLAS, a company dedicated to recycling agro-industrial plastic waste such as silo bags and drums.
“The Argentine countryside generates tons of plastic waste every year. We decided to tackle that problem with a sustainable solution that also creates value and employment,” explained Martín Mastandrea, one of the founders to Cadena 3.
How PLAS works. (Photo: Facebook).
The heart of the project is the circular economy: where there was once pollution, now there is recycled raw material.
The process begins with the collection of waste directly from rural fields, a complex task due to the geographical dispersion. Then, the plastic is transported to the plant located in Presidencia de la Plaza, Chaco, where it is washed, ground, and transformed into recycled polyethylene pellets.
Mastandrea acknowledges that the biggest challenge is not technical, but human: generating trust in the producer.
“We don’t come to judge, but to offer a practical solution so that the producer can manage their rural waste sustainably. We provide them with a legal, environmental, and economically viable outlet,” he stated to the same media outlet.
More than 1200 tons recycled with real impact
Since its inception, PLAS has already recycled more than 1,200,000 kilograms of agro-industrial plastics.
“Every kilo we recover is one less that pollutes, but also a raw material that replaces virgin plastic, which implies less dependence on oil and fewer imports, resulting in currency savings for the country,” Mastandrea pointed out.
The pellets are used by the industry to manufacture a wide range of products, from new silo bags to benches, buckets, and toolboxes.
The plant currently employs 12 people directly and many more indirectly, through logistical services and waste collection.
Regional expansion: a growing model
PLAS’s model has been successfully replicated in other provinces in the Argentine north, such as Santiago del Estero, Salta, Formosa, and Santa Fe, thanks to strategic alliances like the one they maintain with the Unión Agrícola de Avellaneda.
The impact of plastic waste.
One of the most outstanding innovations is their traceability system, developed with a consultancy firm, which allows tracking the journey of each kilo of recycled plastic.
This tool not only certifies the origin and treatment of the material but also allows measuring the reduction of the carbon footprint in agricultural production systems, a key advantage for exporting producers.
The urgency of addressing them: the main impacts of rural waste
Main environmental impacts of rural plastic waste
Among some issues caused by poor rural waste management are:
1. Soil contamination
Many rural plastic wastes are buried or abandoned in fields, leading to an accumulation of microplastics in agricultural soils. This alters soil structure, affects fertility and microbial activity, compromising long-term productivity.
2. Water contamination
When plastics degrade or are burned in the open air, they can release toxic chemicals that reach water bodies through runoff.
Additionally, poorly managed agrochemical containers may contain residues of hazardous products that contaminate aquifers, rivers, and streams.
3. Emission of toxic gases
A common practice in rural areas is to burn plastic waste, especially silo bags. This releases compounds such as dioxins and furans, highly toxic and carcinogenic, affecting both the environment and human health.
4. Impact on biodiversity
Plastics abandoned in rural areas can be ingested by wild animals or livestock, causing digestive obstructions, intoxications, or death.
Furthermore, the presence of waste alters natural habitats and reduces ecosystem quality.
5. Risks to human health
Inadequate handling of phytosanitary containers and other chemical products can leave hazardous residues in fields near rural homes or water sources.
