Pilot project for collection of empty pesticide packaging launched in Bulgaria

A new pilot project for collection of empty packaging from plant protection products has been launched in the Dobrich region of Bulgaria. 
 
The new programme is expected to collect about 4 tonnes of triple-rinsed empty pesticide containers from more than 40 large farms. The plan is that for the next collection campaign in spring 2014 all farms in the area will be qualified to join the collection scheme and then the pilot project will be gradually extended to the whole country. 

‘This initiative is the first step in the direction of implementing a real packaging management system for plant protection product packaging in Bulgaria’ - said Nelly Yordanova, Director General of Bulgarian Crop Protection Association.

ECPA, the European Crop Protection Association, supports the establishment of extensive container management schemes (CMS) across Europe. “In 2013, 5 new container management pilots were conducted in Turkey, Serbia, Russia, Greece and as mentioned in Bulgaria. In 2014 ECPA is planning 4 more pilots in Slovakia, Italy, Cyprus and Lithuania.”

“The aim is to encourage uptake of best practices in the collection, disposal and recycling of appropriately rinsed pesticide containers as part of responsible product life-cycle management in all European countries.” said Jean-Charles Bocquet, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association.