Canada recycled over 5 m agchem containers in 2013

In 2013, a total of 5,181,878 empty pesticide and fertilizer containers were returned to collection sites throughout Canada to be recycled, according to recycling and collection programs delivered by CleanFARMS. Notably, the “Empty container recycling program” collected its 100th million container in 2013, bringing the year-to-date collection total to over 101 million containers collected since the program’s inception in 1989. In 2012, around 65% of containers were returned through the programme but a percentage for 2013 was not available from the annual report.

The volume of containers collected in 2013 amounted to some 1,972.3 tons. In addition, around 227.6 tons of bulk containers (>23 litres) were collected.

The program collected more than 34,700 empty pesticide bags in 2013. More than 239,000 pesticide bags have been returned since the program’s inception in 2006.

According to “Obsolete pesticide collection program”, around 151.2 tons of obsolete products were collected and safely disposed in Alberta, Ontario and Newfoundland，Canada. This brings the total amount of obsolete pesticides collected and safely destroyed to 1,989.1 tons since the program began in 1998. In 2014, the program will be operating in British Columbia (Vancouver Island/Fraser Valley regions), Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and the southern region of Saskatchewan.

CleanFARMS is a not-for-profit industry stewardship organization committed to environmental responsibility through the proper management of agricultural waste.