PLASTICS FOR AGRICULTURE; USES AND RESPONSES FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT

The use of plastics in agriculture began in the 1960s, when glass greenhouses and steel or concrete silos were replaced by this material due to their high costs. Over time, and in the face of problems such as lack of water, manpower and the need to be competitive in the sector, the use of plastics in agriculture was promoted, allowing the conversion of apparently unproductive land into highly profitable farms. Its consumption has not stopped growing in recent years. But once their useful life is over, both the plastics used in agriculture and the packaging of phytosanitary products become waste that is difficult to manage. It is necessary to develop management strategies aimed at solving the problems caused by uncontrolled incineration and dumping of this waste.