Below is more information about recycling and pesticide disposal programs:
Recycling
National: The Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) is an industry funded not-for-profit organization that safely collects and recycles agricultural crop protection, animal health and specialty pest control product containers (Jugs and Drums). Find contractor contact information in your area here. Growers can call the ACRC phone number to schedule collection. This service is FREE.
- Jugs / drums must be triple rinsed, caps removed and booklet lables removed (bas label can remain).
- ACRC only handles 55 gallon drums and smaller
- ARCR Brochure
- ARCR Inspection Checklist
National: Schutz Packaging Systems: Growers with 265-278 gallon IBC's can contact Schuetz at 1-888-schuetz to schedule IBC pick up. Click here for more information about Schuetz return program. Schuetz website.
GA: Pesticide Disposal Program. In recent years it has become obvious that some mechanism for the disposal of canceled/suspended pesticides is necessary for Georgia. In response to these environmental concerns, 1994 Senate Resolution 486 encouraged the Georgia Department of Agriculture to continue interacting with other agricultural organizations to formulate pilot programs to collect and dispose of these materials. All together, three pilot programs were launched and 43,000 pounds of pesticide were collected. Since those three pilot programs, approximately 1,000,000 pounds of pesticides have been collected. These pesticide collections, funded by the Georgia General Assembly, are referred to as Georgia Clean Days and have occurred all over the State of Georgia. If you have questions about Clean Day please contact Rick Hayes at Ricky.Hayes@agr.georgia.gov. Click here for more information.
KY: The Agricultural Chemical Collections Program deals only with unwanted agricultural pesticides. It does not include such items as motor oils, cleaners, paint, antifreeze or industrial chemicals. There is NO COST to farmers to dispose of their old chemicals! Over pack supplies, transporting of unwanted chemicals, and their disposal is paid for by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Kentucky Department of Agriculture field representatives will come to your farm to package, load and transport the unwanted chemicals from your farm. Once the unwanted chemicals leave the farm they are then taken to an approved landfill or incinerator for proper disposal, thus reducing or eliminating the potential for pollution to the land and waters of Kentucky. Due to the States Current Budgetary Restraints; it is possible that you may be put on a waiting list for Chemical Collection Disposal. Click here for more information.
NC: The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences Pesticide Container Recycling Program funds efforts to foster public health and safety, environmental protection, and resource conservation by enabling North Carolina farmers and commercial applicators to participate in the recycling of plastic pesticide containers by transporting their clean, triple-rinsed empty pesticide containers to collection sites that are established by county agencies. Find a recycling site near you.
SC: Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service and Pesticide Regulation sponsor a pesticide container recycling program that has been in operation for almost 15 years. Successful collection days have been held in the majority of South Carolina's counties, with Extension agents making an effort to schedule collection days between seasonal harvests. More than one million containers have been accepted for recycling! The pesticide container recycling program is free to farmers and commercial applicators and pre-registration is not required. For recycling dates in your area, contact your local Cooperative Extension Office. Click here for more information.
PA: Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program is available to all licensed pesticide applicators. In order to participate in the program, applicators must ensure that all containers are free of all pesticide residue, inside and outside. Triple rinsing is required. All label booklets, plastic sleeves and caps should be removed and discarded. Only #2 HDPE plastic containers from EPA registered agricultural, structural, turf, forestry, and specialty pest control products, as well as containers from crop oils, surfactants, and fertilizers, will be accepted. For more information, see the PPCR photo guide and also the directory of public sites. Click here for more information.
Disposal of Pesticides
KY: The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Agri-Business Association of Kentucky offer a Rinse and Return Program. Other partners include the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, which helps coordinate the Program on a county level, Farm Bureau, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service and the local conservation districts, and the Ag Container Recycling Council. Due to the materials previously held by these pesticide containers they cannot be recycled with your ordinary household plastics. This program allows for the proper recycling of these pesticide containers. This reduces the amount of material entering the landfill or being disposed of by other means. Click here for more information. View the 2020 Rinse and Return Program schedule here.
NC: The Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program (PDAP) is a consumer services program in the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The PDAP, part of the Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, is a NON-REGULATORY program that provides cost-free assistance to farmers and homeowners. The goal of the Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program is to assist the citizens of North Carolina by managing and supervising the safe collection and lawful disposal of banned, out-dated, or unwanted pesticides. Click here for more information.
OH: Clean Sweep Program. Each year the Department organizes a Clean Sweep Pesticide Disposal program, funded by US EPA grants and state funds. The program assists farmers with a free of charge, safe and environmentally responsible disposal of unusable, outdated pesticides. No household or non-farm pesticides are accepted, nor are pesticides accepted from commercial companies. Farmers generally cannot dispose of pesticides through household hazardous waste programs, and the Clean Sweep program allows them to dispose of old products responsibly. There are typically 3 collections per year, which move around the state. Collection locations and dates are usually announced during the summer. Click here for more information.
PA: The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's CHEMSWEEP Program provides farmers and other licensed applicators in selected counties a means to dispose of canceled, suspended, or unwanted pesticide products. Applicators can legally dispose of waste pesticides, generally at little or no cost.
TN: The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the U.T. Agricultural Extension Service, and others, has initiated the Tennessee Agricultural Pesticide Waste Collection Program as part of Tennessee's State Management Plan for Protection of Groundwater from Pesticides. This program is designed as a means for the safe removal and disposal of unwanted pesticides. This service is offered free of cost to the agricultural community. Click here for more information.
VA: Virginia's Pesticide Collection Program assists agricultural producers, licensed pesticide dealers, pest control firms, golf courses and homeowners with the proper disposal of unwanted pesticides. The program is an effort by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), with participation from Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. Click here for more information.
More great tips and information on proper pesticide container disposal can be found on the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship website.
