Pesticide Container Recycling Program

Last year, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension program helped recycle about 25 tons of containers, contributing to an 18-year total of about 950 tons of containers, said UNL pesticide safety educator Clyde Ogg.

Forty locations across Nebraska are accepting empty, plastic pesticide containers for recycling in the 19th year of this statewide University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension program.

The UNL Extension program helps recycle 1- and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers and 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical drums, Ogg said.

Recycling sites, guidelines and program details are on UNL’s Pesticide Education Resources website at https://pested.unl.edu/recycling.

The program accepts pressure-rinsed or triple-rinsed 1- and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers. They must be clean and drained, inside and out. Caps, labels and slipcover plastic labels must be removed since they cannot be recycled as part of the program. Those items should be disposed of as solid waste.

Of the 40 collection sites, 24 accept 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical, crop oil and adjuvant drums. These drums must be thoroughly rinsed before delivery to collection sites and should not be cut or opened in any way. Seven of the sites are collecting year-round, 14 collect May through August, 13 collect on specific dates and six are by appointment only.

Mini-bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks, which can be made of fiberglass or plastics not compatible with the recycling program, are not accepted.

The program is funded by a national coalition of agrichemical manufacturers through the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, Washington, D.C.

Source: www.wowt.com