Last year, the program collected nearly 200,000 pounds of empty, properly-cleaned containers Michigan’s Pesticide Container Recycling Program provides cost-free recycling opportunities for pesticide users to properly and safely dispose of containers. The program is a partnership between the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, the Michigan Agri-Business Association, the Ag Container Recycling Council and pesticide users across Michigan. The program ensures that plastics are recycled or converted to other beneficial uses instead of taking up landfill space and decreases the likeliness that unclean or improperly stored contents will leach pesticide residue into the environment. Since 1993, more than 2.92 million pounds of plastic has been collected as part of the program. And, the number of agribusinesses participating in the program is on the rise – with 60 participating last year in 114 collection events. These efforts resulted in the recycling of 196,080 pounds of empty, properly cleaned pesticide containers. How You Can Participate in the Pesticide Container Recycling Program: The program accepts all pesticide containers up to 55-gallon (plastic) drums under the regular program. Three simple steps must be completed before recycling containers: Remove labels, caps, and any other loose material from containers, as well as any caps and loose labeling from any container. Triple-rinse or pressure rinse empty containers immediately after use. The rinse water can be used in an appropriate diluted tank mix. Store rinsed containers in a dry area away from wells and water supplies until a pick-up can be arranged or take them to a recycling location as soon as possible. The vendor prefers that clean containers are tied together in large bundles using rope or twine and stored in a dry area away from wells and water supplies until collection. Large plastic bags to hold jugs are no longer being distributed due to the significant waste stream the bags themselves generate. Participating business/collection sites can request a pickup of stored, clean containers by contacting G. Phillips and Sons directly, at either 248-961-3360, sbruinsma@gphillipsandsons.com; or 563-942-0391 – pickup@gpsagrecycle.com. If your business is interested, it is best to contact G. Phillips & Sons in the spring so they can include you on their contact list – this facilitates planning by allowing them to anticipate working your business into their scheduled pick-up routes. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/pesticidecontainerrecycling.
