Released April 21, 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Thirty-nine locations in Nebraska are accepting empty, plastic pesticide containers for recycling this year.
This is the 17th year for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension's plastic pesticide container and crop protection drum recycling program that helps recycle one and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers and 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical drums, said UNL pesticide safety educator Clyde Ogg, who coordinates the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources program.
To help farmers and pesticide applicators find recycling sites and other program information, UNL's Pesticide Education Resources Web site includes guidelines, participant roles and recycling and program details. (http://pested.unl.edu/recycling)
Plastic from collected containers is turned into industrial and consumer products such as shipping pallets, drain tile, dimension lumber and parking lot tire bumpers. Last year, the UNL program helped recycle more than 70 tons of containers, contributing to a 16-year total of over 800 tons of containers, Ogg said.
The program accepts pressure-rinsed or triple-rinsed 1- and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers. They must be clean and drained, inside and out. Caps, labels and slipcover plastic labels must be removed since they cannot be recycled as part of this program. They should be disposed of as solid waste.
Of the 39 sites, 22 accept 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical, crop oil and adjuvant drums. These drums must be thoroughly rinsed before delivery to collection sites and should not be cut or opened in any way.
Mini-bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks, which can be made of fiberglass or plastics not compatible with the recycling program, are not accepted.
Before delivery to collection sites, containers and drums should be cleaned, rinsed and drained. Rinsate should be returned to the spray tank. Remove and properly dispose of booklets and caps from containers; and remove and properly dispose of plastic shrink-wraps. Glued-on paper labels can be left on the container.
Of this year's 39 collection sites, seven collect year-round, 15 collect May through August, 13 collect on specific dates and three collect by appointment only.
Program funding is by a national coalition of agri-chemical manufacturers through the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, Washington, D.C.
County collection sites, by category are listed below. Sites accepting 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic drums are noted.
Year-round collection sites:
- Buffalo: Kearney Recycling Center, Kearney, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Cuming: West Point Transfer Station, West Point, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon, 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; accepts drums.
- Dawson: All Points Cooperative, Gothenburg and Lexington, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.
- Lincoln: North Platte Transfer Station, North Platte, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays.
- Scotts Bluff: Gering Landfill, Gering, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; accepts drums.
- Washington: Blair Recycling Center, Blair, Saturday 8 a.m. to noon; accepts drums.
May-August collection sites:
- Antelope: Central Valley Ag Co-op, Brunswick, Clearwater, Elgin, Neligh and Tilden.
- Boone: Country Partners Co-op, Cedar Rapids; accepts drums.
- Butler: Frontier Co-op (Yanka), David City.
- Gage: United Agri Products, Beatrice. Southeast Nebraska Cooperative, Beatrice.
- Jefferson: Farmers Cooperative – Fairbury Branch, Fairbury.
- Lancaster: Countryside Co-op, Firth.
- Perkins: Cornhusker Ag Aviation, Grant; accepts drums.
- Sarpy: Farmers Union Co-op, Gretna; accepts drums.
- Saunders: Frontier Cooperative, Mead and UAP Distribution, Ashland; accepts drums.
Sites collecting pesticide containers on specific days:
- Adams: Cooperative Producers Inc., Juniata, Aug. 14 and 15, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.
- Cass: Wiles Bros. Fertilizer Inc., Plattsmouth, Fridays, July and August, 8 a.m. to noon; accepts drums
- Clay: Cooperative Producers Inc., Sutton, Aug. 21 and 22. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.
- Dakota: Central Valley Ag, Emerson, June and July, Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Central Valley Ag, South Sioux City, June and July, Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to noon; both sites accept drums.
- Dixon: Central Valley Ag, Newcastle, May 8 and 22, June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24, Aug. 14 and 28, 8 a.m. to noon. Central Valley Ag, Wakefield, June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, Aug. 6, 1-4 p.m.
- Dodge: Frontier Cooperative, North Bend, Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June through October, accepts drums.
- Hamilton: Cooperative Producers Inc., Giltner, Aug. 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accept drums.
- Kearney: Cooperative Producers Inc., Minden, Aug. 7 and 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.
- Lancaster: Farmers Cooperative Co., Bennet, July 25, 9 a.m. to noon; Farmers Cooperative Co., Waverly, June 27, 9 a.m. to noon. Both sites accept drums.
- Thurston: Mother Earth Recycling Center, Macy, June and July, Wednesdays 10 a.m. to noon; accepts drums.
Sites collecting pesticide containers by appointment only:
- Brown: Ainsworth Transfer Station, Ainsworth, (402) 387-2213.
- Lancaster: Lancaster County Extension Office, Lincoln, (402) 441-7180; accepts drums.
- Saline: Farmers Co-op, Wilber, (402) 821-2351.
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http://ianrnews.unl.edu/static/0804211.shtml
Contacts: Clyde Ogg, (402) 472-1632
Steve Ress, (402) 472-3305
