Greece first launched large-scale pesticide container collection scheme

The Greek farming town of Kileler is proud to have launched the country’s first-ever large-scale collection programme for empty pesticide containers. This is part of a wider European effort driven by ECPA, the European Crop Protection Association, that supports the establishment of extensive container management schemes across Europe.

Greece’s voluntary multi-stakeholder* pilot project is designed to collect and later recycle empty containers from 14 designated points. Kileler was chosen for the pilot project as it is the largest municipality in the country, with over 800,000 acres of arable land and a history of haphazard disposal of pesticide packaging that can have a significant impact on the environment.

The system has already generated great interest from local farmers and aims to involve all growers in the area. Those who sign up to the project receive dedicated training provided by Larissa Prefecture extension services. The project participants will receive special transparent bags in which they can store the used, thoroughly triple-rinsed, containers for later pick- up by a special waste collecting vehicle. Bags will be individually assigned to each farmer; which will enable the inspection experts to identify whether the farmer has properly cleaned the containers prior to disposal. If needed further advice will be given to the farmer so that the containers are well rinsed and can be recycled.

“It was very important for us that participation in this project is for free and that the farmers receive a certificate of excellence after fulfilling the requirements. This will strengthen the feel of responsibility and will showcase their support for best practices in environmental protection”, said Francesca Ydraiou, Director General of the Hellenic Crop Protection Association and a partner in this project.

“This pilot project is one of several in a European effort to establish and improve container management collection schemes,” said Dr Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association. “The crop protection industry encourages and supports the uptake of best practices in the collection, disposal and recycling of appropriately rinsed pesticide containers across Europe, as part of responsible product life-cycle management.”