IDOA to Offer Free Recycling Program for Agrichemical Containers

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 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. In 2019, 30 single-day collection events were held throughout the state. IDOA personnel inspected and collected approximately 95,000 pounds of #2 HDPE plastic pesticide containers from pesticide users.

“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 any containers they may have been planning to throw out 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.

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”.

The collection sites and dates for the 2020 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are as follows:

Permanent collection sites:
County        City                 Location                      Contact                   Phone #
Greene        Carrollton         CHS Inc.                      Bryan McMurtrie      217-942-6991
Lawrence    Lawrenceville   Klein Flying Service     Robert Klein             618-884-1040

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.

***Report Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Agriculture***