Maryland Recycles Pesticide Containers for 20th Year

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 14, 2012)  Maryland’s pesticide container recycling program, offered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), helps prevent pesticide residues from entering the soil and local waterways and has saved valuable landfill space by recycling 655,000 empty, plastic pesticide containers.  The program, which begins its 20th year of operation next month, recycles properly rinsed, empty pesticide containers. All agricultural producers and pesticide applicators can participate in 24 collection days from June through September at six locations throughout the state. Participation is free.

“We are very pleased with the response of farmers, commercial agricultural pesticide applicators and other pesticide users to this program,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “It offers them a way to dispose of pesticide containers, protect the Chesapeake Bay through proper disposal, and provide sources of recycled materials for vendors. As the word has spread about the benefits of the program, participation has consistently increased.”

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 nearly 280 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 Hance. “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.  The program has been effective in reducing the landfill disposal of plastic pesticide containers and in allowing the plastic to be reused.

The program is a collaboration between MDA and Mid-Shore Regional Solid Waste Facility, Kent County Public Works, Wicomico Public Works, Frederick County Bureau of Solid Waste Management, Harford County Public Works, Crop Production Services Centreville, Crop Production Services Pocomoke, Southern States Centreville Cooperative, Southern States Kennedyville Cooperative, Martin’s Elevator, Angelica Nurseries, Inc., The Mill of Black Horse, Willard Agri Service Inc., Chesapeake Ag. Air, Tim’s Aerial Applications, Allen Chorman and Son, Delmarva Aerial Crop Service, Lippy Brothers, Inc., Eddie Mercer, Inc., Hobbits Glen Golf Course, Maryland Environmental Service, and Maryland farmers and applicators.

A schedule of collection dates and sites is available on the MDA website at www.mda.maryland.gov/pdf/recycle.pdf.  For additional information, or to schedule a chipping date at your site, contact Rob Hofstetter, special programs coordinator, Pesticide Regulation Section, MDA, Annapolis, at 410-841-5710.