Wales only has one company solely dedicated to collecting agricultural plastic waste, it was revealed at the Royal Welsh Show.

Plastic accounts for around 30 per cent of the waste produced on farms, according to Welsh Government figures.

Speaking at the show, environment minister Hannah Blythyn said it was important to get the necessary infrastructure in place.

Pontardawe-based Birch Farm Plastics is believed to be the only firm solely dedicated to agricultural plastic collection in Wales.

It handles around 10,000 tonnes of bale wrap, silage bags and other plastic material a year, sending it to British Polythene Industries recycling plant in Rhymney, Caerphilly, where it is made into products including refuse bags. Birch Farm Plastics also uses the recycled plastic to manufacture street and garden furniture.

Marilyn Birch, who founded the company with her husband Peter 25 years ago, said Welsh farmers had been ahead of the game in tackling plastic waste and demand is increasing.

"Farmers are really taking it on board, they want to reduce their waste and have it recycled, so we really do need the facilities to deal with it," she said.

"There's only one plant in Wales that will take the agricultural film, one in England and one in Scotland – so three recycling plants to deal with all this agricultural waste – it's ridiculous really."

"But when we've contacted local authorities over the years to ask them how they feel they can help with the issues of farm plastics they're not interested because their targets are to do with municipal waste."

Mrs Birch is now calling on the government to establish further recycling plants.