Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk, host of the Mulch Matters podcast, sat down with Dr. Karl Englund and Dr. Kun Zhang (California State University, Chico) to explore one of the most challenging—and promising—topics in agricultural sustainability: recycling plastic mulch.
Karl and Kun share how their backgrounds in recycled plastics, composites, and asphalt engineering led them into this interdisciplinary project. Together, they unpack the realities of contamination, soil adhesion, fumigant residues, and the complex logistics of collecting agricultural plastics. As Karl notes, “the contamination of the soil is probably the biggie” and Kun highlights that “plastic mulch recycling in asphalt is a technically sound solution.”
Tune into the Mulch Matters podcast to listen to the full conversation [Read more…]