Pesticide container recycling increases in Washington

A program to keep pesticide containers out of landfills continues to grow, a Washington agriculture department representative says.

Several collections of pesticide containers for recycling occurred around Washington's Spokane and Whitman counties the week of May 16, with a grinder visiting locations including Spokane, Sprague, Cheney, Mead, Rockford and Endicott.

A grinder went through containers in the parking lot at the Washington State University Spokane County Extension office in Spokane.

Tim Schultz, Spokane area manager for the Washington Department of Agriculture pesticide management division, said there are two recycling programs in Washington, one for waste pesticide products and one for containers.

In Washington, the container program began in 1992, and collected about 656,000 pounds in 2010.

"It's not all the containers, it only reflects a portion of the ones that are out there," Schultz said, estimating the program collects about a third of the total. "The program continues to grow."

Farmers must be sure they follow label directions for rinsing the containers. Disposal instructions are typically generic, and most farmers should be aware of collection programs in which they may return a jug to a dealer, Schultz said.

Older practices such as burning containers or burying them are no longer allowed for possible pollution reasons.

"Recycling is the option that remains, and is a good one," Schultz said.

Schultz said delays have occurred with the container program this year with some area farmers behind on their operations due to weather conditions.

Scott Nielsen, department pesticide investigator, said area landscape companies and farmers used a storage area to drop off their empty containers, which held about 4,000 jugs neatly stacked. The storage area is usually full by fall, Schultz said.

Grinding occurs twice a year, in the spring and fall, Nielsen said.

Steve George is owner of Northwest Ag Plastics, Inc., in Moxee, Wash., which operates in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The national program is a private enterprise put together by the major chemical manufacturing companies, overseen by the Agriculture Container Recycling Council. The program contracts with six companies throughout the U.S., George said.

State departments of agriculture help promote the program or lend support.

The company collects year-round in locations where weather permits, and takes off in Washington in December and January. Farmers can either hold onto containers until they can move them to a location on the company's schedule or, if they have a large quantity, have mobile equipment arrive on site.

Source: Capital Press