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SDDA pesticide container recycling program nears milestone
By From staff reports
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EmailMarch 11. 2010 6:00AM
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture has collected nearly 1 million empty pesticide containers for recycling since 1993.
In 2009, SDDA collected 137,291 containers. That resulted in 95,701 pounds of granulated plastic for recycling. The recycled plastic is made into new plastic pesticide containers, pallets, underground utility conduit and many other products.
Each year, SDDA visits about 30 sites to collect empty pesticide containers. The 2010 schedule should be set by late April.
SDDA also collected 26,190 pounds of unusable pesticides in 2009 during five Household Hazardous Waste Collections. The unusable pesticides were disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
Any pesticide formulation can be considered unusable if:
• The label uses have been canceled (i.e. DDT and toxaphene);
• The product is no longer in usable condition (i.e. dry products that have caked or liquids that have settled and can't be remixed); or
• The product is unidentifiable or the label is missing, making proper use impossible.
People with unusable pesticides for pick up should call SDDA to register the pesticides prior to collections.
Both the container recycling and pesticide disposal programs are free services offered by SDDA. They are funded from a portion of pesticide registration fees.
To view the 2010 Container Collection Schedule (when available) or to register unusable pesticides, visit www.state.sd.us/doa or call 1-800-228-5254.
In 2009, SDDA collected 137,291 containers. That resulted in 95,701 pounds of granulated plastic for recycling. The recycled plastic is made into new plastic pesticide containers, pallets, underground utility conduit and many other products.
Each year, SDDA visits about 30 sites to collect empty pesticide containers. The 2010 schedule should be set by late April.
SDDA also collected 26,190 pounds of unusable pesticides in 2009 during five Household Hazardous Waste Collections. The unusable pesticides were disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.
Any pesticide formulation can be considered unusable if:
• The label uses have been canceled (i.e. DDT and toxaphene);
• The product is no longer in usable condition (i.e. dry products that have caked or liquids that have settled and can't be remixed); or
• The product is unidentifiable or the label is missing, making proper use impossible.
People with unusable pesticides for pick up should call SDDA to register the pesticides prior to collections.
Both the container recycling and pesticide disposal programs are free services offered by SDDA. They are funded from a portion of pesticide registration fees.
To view the 2010 Container Collection Schedule (when available) or to register unusable pesticides, visit www.state.sd.us/doa or call 1-800-228-5254.
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