Maryland Recycles Pesticide Containers for 23rd Year; Collection Dates Open in June

ANNAPOLIS, MD —  For 22 years, the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s pesticide container recycling program has helped prevent pesticide residues from entering the soil and local waterways and has saved valuable landfill space by recycling nearly 850,000 empty, plastic pesticide containers.  The program will open its 23rd year of operation in June for farmers, pesticide applicators and others.  A total of 24 collection days are scheduled June through September at six locations throughout the state. Those participating are asked to properly rinse and recycle their empty pesticide containers.

“This recycling program protects the environment from possible contamination and gives producers and others an easy, free way to dispose of pesticide containers. We are very pleased with the response by farmers, commercial agricultural pesticide applicators and other pesticide users to this program,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder.

In addition to removing potential contaminants through proper disposal, the program provides a source of recycled material for vendors.

The pesticide container recycling program is FREE and open to all agricultural producers and pesticide applicators. The Agricultural Container Recycling Council (ACRC) provides a chipper to grind the plastic containers into flakes, which are then transported to a contractor for recycling.  The containers collected in Maryland have yielded 374 tons of recyclable plastic flakes.

“We are especially pleased with the cooperative effort of the Ag Container Recycling Council and USAg Recycling, Inc., which makes local recycling and special pick up for large quantities possible, providing a convenient and much cheaper alternative to landfill disposal,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “With continued cooperation among the participating groups, farmers and pesticide applicators, the program will continue to be successful and will protect the natural resources of the state from potential contamination by pesticides.”

Maryland’s container recycling program is a combined effort of state, county and federal agencies, as well as private industry, working together to protect the environment.  With cooperation between MDA and Mid-Shore Regional Solid Waste Facility, Kent County Public Works, Wicomico County  Public Works, Frederick County Bureau of Solid Waste Management, Harford County Public Works, Crop Production Services Pocomoke, Southern States Centreville Cooperative, Southern States Frederick Cooperative, Martin’s Elevator, Angelica Nurseries, Inc., The Mill of Black Horse, Willard Agri Service Inc., Chesapeake Ag. Air, Tim’s Aerial Applications, Delmarva Aerial Crop Service, Lippy Brothers, Inc., Eddie Mercer, Inc., Hobbits Glen Golf Course, MRW Lawns, USDA, ARS, Maryland Environmental Service, and Maryland farmers and applicators, the program has been effective in reducing the landfill disposal of plastic pesticide containers and in allowing the plastic to be reused.

See a schedule of collection dates and sites.

For additional information, or to schedule a chipping date at your site, contact Rob Hofstetter, special programs coordinator, Pesticide Regulation Section, Maryland Department of Agriculture, at 410-841-5710.

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