Toro and Revolution’s New Drip Tape Recycling Service

EL CAJON, Calif. – Toro is pleased to announce a new drip tape recycling service in California. The on-farm pick-up service is now available to all Toro growers with qualifying Toro drip tape purchases. The service is a result of Toro’s ongoing commitment to help farmers maximize production with efficient, sustainable drip irrigation practices. The service is offered exclusively in partnership with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s innovator award winner, Revolution, a national leader in agricultural plastic recycling with operations throughout the United States. Most recently, they have acquired and expanded an ag plastics recycling facility in Salinas, California, to better serve local growers.

“Recycling has become difficult for many growers because plastic recyclers in Asia have effectively closed their doors to foreign recycling,” says Ralf San Jose, director of marketing for Toro’s agricultural business.  “This created a recycling challenge in the United States and other countries, making it nearly impossible for many growers to recycle their drip irrigation plastic. Thanks to Toro’s new recycling service with Revolution, Toro growers in California now have a reliable and sustainable outlet for their used drip tape.”

Toro’s drip tape recycling service is a part of a completely closed-loop production process. Rather than sending the plastic waste to a landfill, Revolution picks up the used drip tape, cleans it, and makes recycled polyethylene resin. Toro then uses this recycled resin in other drip irrigation products, ensuring sustainable and responsible environmental practices.

“Between global recycling changes and a market shift toward single-use drip tape, Toro’s drip irrigation recycling service puts Toro growers at a real advantage. And with Revolution’s service and truck fleet, field prep is easy and pickup turnaround time is fast,” says Sky Anderson, product manager for Toro.

This program extends a three-year recycling relationship between Toro and Revolution. “Toro and Revolution are attempting something with drip irrigation in the United States,” says Louis Vasquez, vice president and general manager for Revolution. “Creating a closed-loop system in which single-use drip tape can be recycled and made into drip products again versus sent to the landfills.”