by David Shiley, Extension Educator
Local Food Systems and Small Farms
The Illinois Department of Agriculture offers a program, which recycles empty plastic agrichemical containers each year. The containers are recycled and used to manufacture other agrichemical-related products.
Collection sites will accept only high-density polyethylene, #2 plastic agrichemical containers that are clean and dry. Participants are responsible for rinsing them and removing all caps, labels, booklets and foil seals.
This program is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Illinois Farm Bureau, and University of Illinois Extension.
There are two locations on the schedule in the central Illinois Area. In Champaign County a collection event is scheduled on September 5th from 9 to 11 am at United Prairie in Tolono. You can contact Ben Rawlins at 217-485-6000 for more information.
The second event in central Illinois is also scheduled on September 5th but will be open in the afternoon from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. This second location is in Effingham County at Effingham Equity in Montrose. For more information at this location, contact Andy Meinhart at 217-342-3123.
Only clean containers are accepted at the recycling drop off locations. The best way to clean a container is to rinse it right after use. Depending on what system fits your operation, you can either triple rinse or pressure rinse your containers.
To properly triple rinse a container, follow these steps.
1. Fill the empty container about 20% full with water.
2. Replace cap securely and shake the contents to rinse all inside surfaces.
3. Pour rinse water into spray tank and drain for at least 30 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 twice more until container is clean.
5. Inspect the container (inside and out) for formulation residues. Repeat as needed.
Containers can also be pressure rinsed to prepare them for recycling following these steps.
- Use a special nozzle attached to a water hose.
- Hold the container upside down over the spray tank with the cap removed. Puncture side of container with the pointed nozzle.
3. Pressurized water cleans the inside surfaces while the rinsate flows into the spray tank.
4. Rinse for 30 seconds or longer while rotating the nozzle to rinse all surfaces.
5. Inspect the container (inside and out) for formulation residues. Repeat as needed.
After the containers have been cleaned let them dry, and then keep them dry out of the rain. The recycler will not accept a container with liquid in it.
Over 1.6 million pounds of plastic have been collected since the program started more than 20 years ago. There are other locations across Illinois where one-day collection events are scheduled and permanent site are located in Green and Lawrence counties.
If you need more information on the Agrichemical Container Recycling Program, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 1.800.641.3934 (voice and TDD).
For more information on University of Illinois Extension programming in Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby counties, visit our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ccdms/index.html or call us at (217)345-7034 The University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact the extension office at (217)-345-7034.