Container recycling is a simple, easy, important way to protect Michigan’s environment Pesticide container recycling is available to retailers and growers across the state. Clean, rinse, and bundle containers for delivery to retailers or direct farm pick-up 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 agri-chemical dealers and pesticide users across Michigan. The program not only ensures plastics are recycled or converted to other beneficial uses instead of taking up landfill space, but also decreases the likeliness that unclean or improperly stored contained will leach pesticide residue into the environment. Since 1993, more than 2.52 million pounds of plastic has been recycled as part of the program. We did see some impact from COVID-19 in 2020. While 52 agribusiness and end-user locations participated as collection sites, the accumulated 169,800 pounds of empty, properly cleaned pesticide containers was a 40% reduction following a record year in 2019. It is expected that pounds collected will rebound in 2021. The program accepts all rigid HDPE pesticide containers up to 55 gallon (plastic) drums that held products from the following markets: Crop Protection, Specialty Pesticides and Fertilizers – Containers that held EPA registered crop protection products labeled for agricultural uses, or products labeled for professional Structural Pest Control, Animal Health, Turf and Ornamental, Vegetation Management, Nursery and Greenhouse, Forestry, Aquatics, and Public Health uses are eligible for recycling. Containers that previously held non- registered products such as adjuvants, crop oils and surfactants are also eligible for recycling. Three simple steps must be completed before recycling containers: Remove labels, caps, and any other loose material from containers. Triple-rinse or pressure rinse empty containers immediately after use. The rinse-water can be used in an appropriate diluted tank mix. Bundle clean containers together using rope or twine and store in a dry area away from wells and water supplies. Large plastic bags to hold jugs are no longer distributed by MDARD due to the significant waste stream the bags themselves generated. Many of Michigan’s agri-businesses collect empty pesticide containers for recycling, though producers can also schedule a pick-up directly on the farm, depending on the volume generated. The licensed program vendor, G. Phillips and Sons, can be reached at either (678) 232-6047 – tharding@gphillipsandsons.com; or (563) 942-0391 – pickup@gpsagrecycle.com. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/pesticidecontainerrecycling.
