IDOA TO OFFER FREE RECYCLING PROGRAM FOR AGRICHEMICAL CONTAINERS

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is encouraging farmers and agrichemical facilities to save their empty agrichemical containers as they will once again be hosting free container recycling days throughout the State.

Beginning in the middle of July and continuing into August, sites throughout the State will collect the empty containers which will be recycled and made into shipping pallets, plastic lumber, and other useful products.

"This program offers farmers and agrichemical facilities a convenient opportunity to dispose of empty pesticide containers while also helping to protect the environment," said Jerry Costello II, Director, IDOA. "I encourage farmers to gather containers they are planning to dispose and take them to the nearest collection site to be repurposed."

Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for the recycling program.  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.

Mini-Bulk and Intermediate Bulk containers can be recycled via the Department's container recycling program by making the following container preparations: Mini Bulk (cage) containers are required to be cut into separate top, bottom and sides, fittings discarded (no metal, no wood) (6 slabs of plastic). Intermediate Bulk Containers are to be cut in to 1-foot square pieces, fittings discarded (no metal, no wood). In 2021, G. Phillips and Sons, LLC Began offering services to pick up Mini-Bulk and Intermediate Bulk containers throughout the year. Please feel free to contact G. Phillips and Sons, LLC at 678-232-6047 to learn more about their Mini-Bulk and Intermediate Bulk container collection service.

The program is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, G. Phillips and Sons, L.L.C., Illinois Farm Bureau, and the University of Illinois Extension.

Additional information can be found on the IDOA website at agriculture.illinois.gov, click on the "Environment" tab and then "Agrichemicals". To obtain a free brochure about the program, call the Illinois department of Agriculture toll free at 1-800-641-3934.

The collection sites and dates for the 2019 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are as follows:

Permanent collection sites:
County          City                     Location                      Contact              Phone #
Pike               Griggsville            Logan Agri Sry, Inc     Josh Schaver      217-833-2375
Lawrence       Lawrenceville      Klein Flying Service     Robert Klein       618-884-1040
White             Carmi                   Klein Flying Service    Bri Klein              812-890-8605

Single Day Collection Sites:

AM Site hours are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
PM Site hours are 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
*** Site hours are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.