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.
| Date/Time | County / City | Location | Contact | Phone |
| 7/23 AM | Hancock / Bowen | Chem-Gro, Inc. | Todd Nelson | 217-842-5514 |
| 7/23 PM | Schuyler / Rushville | Prairieland FS | Aaron Winner | 217-322-2024 |
| 7/24 AM | McDonough/ Blandinsville | Nutrien Ag Sol., Inc. | Travis Weaver | 309-652-3694 |
| 7/27 PM | Carroll / Milledgeville | Carroll Service Co. | Riley Warnken | 815-225-7101 |
| 7/28 AM | Morgan / Jacksonville | Prairieland FS | Dick Stiltz | 217-243-6561 |
| 7/28 PM | Cass / Virginia | Sunrise Ag | Mike Schone | 217-452-3936 |
| 7/29 AM | Stephenson / Dakota | Pearl City Elevator | Mark Wells | 815-449-2254 |
| 7/29 PM | Winnebago / Rockford | Conserv FS | Greg Sandahl | 815-963-7669 |
| 7/30 AM | McHenry / Marengo | Conserv FS | Brett Wolter | 815-568-7211 |
| 7/30 PM | DeKalb / Kirkland | Helena Chemical Co. | Dan Moore | 815-522-3251 |
| 7/31 AM | Kane / Maple Park | CHS Inc. | Dave Kleckner | 630-365-5027 |
| 8/3 PM | Livingston / Saunemin | Nutrien Ag Sol., Inc. | Steve Schaffer | 815-832-4491 |
| 8/4 AM | LaSalle / Lostant | Grainco FS | Josh Scott | 815-368-3215 |
| 8/4 PM | Marshall / Toluca | Helena Chemical Co. | Ashley Anderson | 815-452-2377 |
| 8/5 AM | Kankakee / Chebanse | Chebanse Ag | Dean Schafer | 815-697-2392 |
| 8/5 PM | Iroquois / Onarga | Nutrien Ag Sol., Inc. | Todd Miller | 815-268-4428 |
| 8/11 AM | Peoria / Hanna City | Ag-Land FS | Mark Alvey | 309-565-4315 |
| 8/11 PM | Tazewell / Deer Creek | Earlybird Feed & Fert. | Dave Howard | 309-613-0934 |
| 8/12 AM | Effingham / Montrose | Effingham Equity | Andy Meinhart | 217-342-3123 |
| 8/12 PM | Champaign / Tolono | United Prairie | Ben Rawlins | 217-485-6000 |
| 8/13 AM | Fayette / Vandalia | Woolsey Brothers | Randy Goodman | 618-283-1263 |
| 8/13 PM | Christian / Pana | Effingham Equity | Andy Meinhart | 217-342-3123 |
| 8/14 AM | Macoupin / Girard | M & M Service | Zane Rutherford | 217-627-2151 |
| 8/19 AM | Clinton / New Baden | Nutrien Ag Sol., Inc. | Jeff Haas | 618-588-3525 |
| 8/19 PM | Monroe / Waterloo | Gateway FS | Ryan Gonzalez | 618-282-4000 |
| 8/20 *** | Randolph / Sparta | Bockhorn Ag | Justin Bockhorn | 618-443-3905 |
| 8/20 PM | Washington / Irvington | Irvington Elevator | Steve Seidel | 618-249-6206 |
| 8/21 AM | Wayne / Ellery | Wabash Valley Srv. Co. | Kent Ochs | 618-516-1697 |
***Report Courtesy of the Illinois Department of Agriculture***
