Inside the Mulch Film Challenge: A Deep Dive with Waste Expert Gene Jones

In this episode of Mulch Matters, host Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk sits down with Gene Jones, Executive Director of the Southern Waste Information Exchange, to unpack more than four decades of experience in waste management and agricultural plastics. Gene shares how he became involved in mulch film recycling, the challenges posed by soil‑contaminated polyethylene films, and why mechanization in mulch removal remains slow to adopt across farming systems. Together, they explore the environmental implications of open‑field burning, the surprising levels of soil and moisture contamination found in mulch film, and the engineering innovations—from mechanical extractors to shredding technologies—that could reshape how agricultural plastics are handled. Gene also discusses realistic end‑market opportunities for recycled mulch film, including pyrolysis, cement kiln fuel, and asphalt modification, and offers his perspective on policy changes that could accelerate progress in the United States. This episode provides a candid, technical, and forward‑looking conversation about the future of mulch film recycling—and why solving this challenge matters for growers, industry, and the environment. Note: Intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay