By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) has initiated a statewide effort to encourage farmers and agrichemical facilities to participate in a free agrichemical container recycling program. Scheduled to commence from mid-July through August, various sites across Illinois will be designated for the collection of containers, which will then be repurposed to create shipping pallets.
Director Jerry Costello II of the IDOA expressed the significance of this annual initiative, providing a convenient avenue for farmers and agrichemical facilities to responsibly dispose of empty pesticide containers. Rather than discarding these containers into landfills, participants can bring them to the nearest collection site.
However, it's essential to note that metal and household pesticide containers are noteligible for this recycling program. Only high-density polyethylene, #2 plastic agrichemical containers that are clean and dry will be accepted at collection sites.
Participants are required to rinse the containers and remove all caps, valves, metal, labels, booklets, and foil seals. Additionally, specific preparations are necessary for Mini-Bulk and Intermediate Bulk containers, such as cutting them into separate pieces with fittings discarded.
The program is a collaborative effort involving several organizations, including the Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, G. Phillips and Sons, LLC, Illinois Farm Bureau, and University of Illinois Extension.
For those interested in obtaining more information about the program, free brochures are available by contacting the Illinois Department of Agriculture toll-free at 1-800-641-3934.
The collection sites and dates for the 2024 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are listed below:
Permanent Collection Sites:
- Logan Agri Srv, Inc. in Griggsville, Pike County
- Klein Flying Service in Lawrenceville, Lawrence County
- Klein Flying Service in Carmi, White County
Single-Day Collection Sites:
Scheduled on various dates from July 17th to August 7th, these sites will be open during specified hours, facilitating convenient drop-off options for participants across different regions of the state.
This initiative underscores the commitment of the Illinois Department of Agriculture and its partners to promote environmental sustainability within the agricultural community, emphasizing the importance of responsible waste management practices.
Photo Credit: illinois-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Illinois, General