Trash bags filled with waste believed to be from the production of cannabis was found in a river in Sheffield, a city in South Yorkshire, England.
The trash bags were found to contain compost and paraphernalia thought to have been used in the production of cannabis, in addition to other general trash. The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust said illegal dumping had become a recent problem, with three separate incidents within the last month in the same stretch of river.
“It’s really bad between Duchess Road and Granville Square, with about 100 bags now thrown off the side of the bridge,” said Martin Stranex, river warden with the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust. “It’s a particular problem in Sheffield where the River Sheaf outlet enters the River Don. But it happens elsewhere too: the upper River Sheaf near Totley, near Ringinglow, and also in Derbyshire, in the Peak District, and on the Snake Pass.”
Stranex said once the waste gets into a large river it is difficult to remove it before it eventually ends up in the sea. He said the illegal dumping was “disappointing for people who had worked along the river in the past few years,” and local residents were “indignant” when asked their thoughts on the growing problem.
Waste continues to be a problem for the cannabis industry whether it be product waste or waste from the production of products, including packaging. The state of Vermont previously issued guidance to its cannabis industry regarding packaging, with the Vermont Cannabis Control Board stating “packaging that is intended for consumer purchase at a retail location shall be reusable and shall not be plastic.” The guidance included glass, tin, cardboard, and bamboo as examples of reusable packaging materials cannabis brands can look to.
Massachusetts-based Tree House Craft Cannabis, which operates two dispensaries in the state, introduced a recycling program that trades pre-rolls for any used glass, metal or plastic cannabis container, regardless of whether it was purchased at a Tree House dispensary or not. The company then uses the donated packaging to create new packaging for their own pre-rolls. The company has collected over 400 pounds of recyclable materials since the launch of the program in May 2023. Wes Ritchie and Ture Turnbull, co-CEOs of Tree House Craft Cannabis, have also advocated at the state level to encourage recycling among cannabis companies in the state.
“It doesn’t have to be perfect, because right now, it’s a disaster. We’re trying to make it better. We’re really trying to also signal that the barrier of entry is not that high. If you are a company that cares about this, you can participate too, and still have a positive impact in the right direction,” said Ritchie.
Researchers at the University of Auckland have worked to develop a process that can transform waste from the medical cannabis industry into resources such as biofertilizer. Through a process that involves destroying active cannabinoids from cannabis by mixing the waste with water and heating to high temperatures, the researchers were able to create both a solid, charcoal-like substance called “hydrochar” and a liquid fertilizer that can be used to help the growth of new cannabis plants.
“It’s a perfect example of bringing the circular economy to the medicinal cannabis sector,” said research lead Saeid Baroutian, Director of the Circular Innovations (CIRCUIT) Research Centre in the Faculty of Engineering and co-director of Ng? Ara Whet?: Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society. “Instead of the current linear ‘take-make-dispose’ system, our technology will connect productivity for the sector with environmental, social, legal and cultural acceptability. That is a big step towards true sustainability.”
