Extension Corner - Recycling Ag Pesticide Containers
Last week was Earth Day. There are many things that each of us can do to protect the environment and especially our soil and water resources.
One thing farmers, custom applicators, aerial applicators, household exterminators, road departments, and park departments can do is to recycle plastic pesticide containers. 2008 is the seventeenth year for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension’s plastic pesticide container and crop protection drum recycling program. The program helps to recycle 1 and 2.5 gallon plastic pesticide containers and 15, 30 and 55 gallon plastic chemical drums.
The 1 and 2.5 gallon plastic pesticide containers should be power rinsed or triple rinsed. They must be clean and dry inside and out. Caps, labels and slipcover plastic labels must be removed. Glued on paper labels can be left on the containers. 15, 30 and 55 gallon plastic crop protection chemical, crop oil, and adjuvant drums must be thoroughly rinsed and should not be cut or opened in any way. Mini bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks made of plastic or fiberglass are not accepted.
The Blair Recycling Center accepts plastic pesticide containers and plastic chemical drums on Saturdays 8- 12 noon. Household and residential plastic pesticide containers are not accepted but residents are reminded to dispose of them properly, too. These containers should be triple rinsed and disposed of as solid waste.
For more information on the Nebraska Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program check out the following web site http://pested.unl.edu/recycling.
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