2005 Year in Review

Are You Recycling Your Pesticide Containers?

Source: Bruce Paulsrud, University of Illinois Extension (217-244-9646; paulsrud@uiuc.edu)

Once again this summer, farmers will have an opportunity to safely and conveniently dispose of empty pesticide containers at one of 29 temporary sites across Illinois. Beginning in July, clean containers will be accepted and ground into plastic chips that will be used to make shipping pallets, hazardous waste drums and other useful products.

Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for the recycling program. Collection sites will accept only high-density polyethylene, #2 plastic, pesticide containers that are clean and dry. Before delivering containers, please be sure they are triple rinsed and that all the caps, foil seals, and labeling are removed.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture sponsors the program in conjunction with the Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Tri-Rinse, Inc., United Agri-Products, UAP Richter, the Farm Bureau, and University of Illinois Extension.

To obtain a free brochure about the program, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture toll free at 800-641-3934. A list of single-day as well as year-round collection sites is available online at Chemical Container Recycling Schedule. The single-day collection sites begin July 18th and end on August 11th.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
June 23, 2005