The count down has begun on new Agricultural Waste Regulations, which come into force from May 15, leaving many farmers facing potential punitive action from the Environment Agency and the potential loss of business.

Farmers are increasingly faced with new legislation which challenges their traditional way of operating, and, in the case of Agricultural Waste Regulations, the type of waste which farmers are dealing with has changed radically, with a huge increase in the amounts of plastic used.

The Richards, a well known Cornish farming family from Splattenridden, Hayle are already committed to recycling, running The Greenwaste Company which provides professional green waste management services. They have just launched a dedicated whole farm service designed to solve farmer's problems in meeting the requirements of the new, soon to be implemented, regulations, including dirty and difficult to dispose of materials.

Felicity Richards said: "We recognised as soon as the Agricultural Waste Regulations were announced that they would cause real problems with farmers in our part of the world. Many Cornish farmers use plastic ground cover to bring on early crops, especially in west Cornwall, and the popularity of haylage and silage means there's a lot more coloured plastic covers around now as well, let alone feed bags, fertilizer bags and pesticide containers. Plastic is endemic in modern day farming and its disposal is about to become a serious headache for farmers who risk failing environmental audits and losing business to supermarkets and other clients who will be asking what farmers are doing to comply with the new regulation. We are mindful that this can be another burden and cost to farmers and have worked hard to develop a cost effective and helpful service."

This understanding of the issues for farmers who have to show Duty of Care means they are well placed to develop a business solution for their colleagues and a partnership with experts Agri.cycle has meant they can now offer a bespoke service for the disposal of farm plastics. As a result farmers can provide essential Waste Transfer Notes; evidence which will be sought by the Environment Agency when checking on waste disposal by farmers from mid May, accounting for the disposal of their farm waste.

The service has been welcomed by Philip Rees, Chairman of the Environment Agency's Regional Environmental Protection Advisory Committee who says "The Green Waste Company has always been committed to best environmental practice and has been innovative in the green waste management services they offer. This is a great new service which will meet an essential need as farmers face up to the importance of demonstrating compliance with this new regulation which the Environment Agency will police with rigour".

The Greenwaste Company service for farmers has been designed so it can be tailored for each farm's specific needs; clear plastic crop cover will cost on average 6p per kilo for recycling, with coloured and black plastics costing 10p per kilo. Felicity points out that as the plastic will be weighed on the weighbridge at Splattenridden; the cleaner and drier the plastic the lower the weight and therefore the price, which accurately reflects the cost to them in the recycling of the soiled plastic. Farmers are encouraged to store their own plastic and to deliver full loads to Splattenridden, although a collection service can be offered.