The Montana Department of Agriculture announced that Director Jillien Streit, along with Lake County Solid Waste Director Stacey Kintigh, Lake County Weed Control Director and Coordinator Tyler Linse, and Flathead Biological Station Assistant Research Professor Dr. Rachel Malison, opened Montana’s first regional agricultural chemical recycling granulator.
According to the announcement, since 2009 the program has diverted 970,332 pounds of agricultural plastic from local landfills and is expected to reach one million pounds of recycled plastic in 2026. The new containerized granulator at the Lake County Weed Control Office is described as the first infrastructure of its kind in Montana, offering greater access to agricultural plastic recycling for the Columbia Basin region.
The Montana Department of Agriculture contributes to community well-being by protecting agricultural producers, consumers and the environment via its regulatory and promotional efforts, according to the official website. The department maintains operations across the state of Montana and operates the Montana State Grain Lab in Great Falls for grain inspection services, according to the official website.
Additionally, the department promotes prosperity in what it identifies as the state’s top industry through more than 30 programs aimed at market and business growth as well as licensing and regulatory services that safeguard farmers, consumers and the environment. The department also collaborates with organizations such as Grow Montana Coalition to organize events like the Governor’s Food and Agriculture Summit.
More information about this initiative can be found in the organization’s press release.
