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Highlights

  • Multi-phase MOU signed with Cleanfarms to assess chemical recycling of farm plastic waste
  • Agricultural sector generates 62,000 tonnes of plastic annually in Canada, much currently landfilled
  • Aduro to conduct trials using contaminated silage film, bale wrap, grain bags, and twine

Aduro Clean Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ADUR | CSE: ACT | FSE: 9D5) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cleanfarms Inc., a Canadian Producer Responsibility Organization, to explore the chemical recycling potential of on-farm plastic waste using Aduro’s Hydrochemolytic™ Technology (HCT). This collaboration aims to address recycling challenges associated with contaminated agricultural plastics that are typically not suitable for conventional methods.

The agreement outlines a structured, three-phase evaluation process. In Phase A, Aduro will perform lab-scale testing on samples such as silage film, bale wrap, grain bags, netting, and polypropylene twine. These materials often contain high levels of soil, organic matter, and moisture, making them difficult to recycle. The trials will assess conversion efficiency, contaminant tolerance, and hydrocarbon yield.

Phase B will scale up the operation using Aduro’s Next Generation Pilot plant. Cleanfarms will supply larger quantities of agricultural waste to support continuous flow testing, system modeling, and a preliminary techno-economic and environmental impact analysis.

If earlier phases meet performance thresholds, Phase C would explore the integration of agricultural plastics into Aduro’s upcoming Demonstration Plant. This phase would focus on operational validation, logistics planning, and commercial modeling—leveraging Cleanfarms’ infrastructure, which includes over 2,000 collection sites and 200+ member organizations across Canada.

The Canadian agricultural sector generates approximately 62,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Current practices often lead to landfilling, burning, or stockpiling. Cleanfarms, which achieved an 87% recovery rate for small pesticide and fertilizer containers in 2023, brings operational insight and access to real-world feedstocks for evaluation.

This collaboration seeks to determine whether Aduro’s HCT can process difficult waste streams and help develop a commercially viable recycling solution for plastics that currently lack end-of-life options within agricultural systems.