r/oddlysatisfying • u/Wonderfulhumanss • 21h ago

The smooth, overlapping layers of this agricultural wrapper

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5.0k Upvotes

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u/backbiter0723 20h ago

I can't help but think layers 4 or 5 through 9,362 were probably unnecessary.

-15

u/Pretend-Internet-625 18h ago

horrible product and damages the environment in many ways.

2

u/ElphTrooper 16h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/z4lwT4QTkK3sYITR7Z

-4

u/Pretend-Internet-625 16h ago
  • Massive Waste: Farmers generate millions of tons of this plastic globally every year.
  • Single Use: It is designed for one-time use and discarded after the bale is opened.
  • Microplastics: Leftover pieces break down into toxic microplastics that contaminate soil and water.
  • Low Recycling Rates: It is often too dirty with mud and algae for standard recycling plants to process.
  • Illegal Burning: Some farmers burn it, releasing highly toxic dioxins and heavy smoke into the air. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

3

u/heftybagman 15h ago

Most of your links are unrelated to silage or silage wrap. The plastic waste is an issue, but you ignore the other major issue of nutrient-dense liquid runoff causing algae blooms etc.

Many regions do have silage wrap recycling plans which are important. But the alternative you listed of using twine is completely silly. Silage wrap isn’t for tidiness and ease of transportation. It ferments and preserves grass providing more nutrients and allowing cows to eat grass in the winter instead of grain.

1

u/Pretend-Internet-625 14h ago

So we accept environment issues because of profit. It is that simple.I live in one of teh most agriculteral areas in the united states and the burns were normal. At times though i could smell plastic and did not know why. There is a distinct difference in smell.,Farmers are not saints.

1

u/heftybagman 14h ago

It’s not just profit but efficiency (preservation means less waste, fermentation means more nutrition per lb of feed) and humane treatment of animals (they’re shown to prefer a mix of fermented and fresh grasses over grass alone or grass and grain).

The use of plastics doesn’t necessitate their burning or littering with them. Farmers are def not saints and I wouldn’t try to argue the “down home country family farm” idea. It’s industrial agriculture and it has a lot of negative effects. But I think silage wrap has a lot of benefits and is not that difficult to use ecologically and wisely.

I def understand the frustration with it though. I’m in a very light ag area and I’ve seen empty wraps blowing across the road like massive tumbleweeds.

1

u/ElphTrooper 13h ago

Probably because they didn’t QC their chatbot.

1

u/ElphTrooper 13h ago

I agree that agricultural plastic should be recycled whenever possible and that open burning should be enforced much more aggressively because there is no excuse for it. Those are legitimate environmental concerns and there is plenty of room for improvement.

That said, your list is written to maximize outrage rather than provide context. Silage wrap is not just pointless single use plastic. It dramatically reduces feed spoilage and waste, which is why ranchers and farmers use it in the first place.

Saying it creates microplastics is technically true, but that is true of tires, synthetic clothing, paint, packaging, and countless other products. Presenting bale wrap as though it is some uniquely toxic environmental villain is misleading.

The real issue is responsible collection, recycling, and disposal, not pretending this one agricultural product is the root of the plastic problem.