By TIM ALEXANDER
Illinois Correspondent

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Illinois Chemical and Fertilizer Association (IFCA) are offering free recycling programs for agrichemical containers to farmers, ag retailers and others. One program, sponsored by the IDOA along with IFCA, the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., Container Services Network, Illinois Farm Bureau and University of Illinois extension, will accept containers of 2.5 gallons or smaller at over 30 one-day locations and four permanent collection sites.

“Any empty ag chemical containers of 2.5 gallons or less – your glyphosates, your insecticides – will be accepted in this program,” said Kevin Runkle, IFCA’s regulatory affairs manager. “We want to promote the program and encourage our members to participate. Many of our members are sponsoring collection sites by allowing their businesses to be used as drop-off locations.”

The program is stewardship-driven, said Runkle, as there are no regulations regarding the disposal of most agrichemical containers. Most farmers simply rinse the containers and take them to a landfill or burn them, he said. However, containers brought to any of the program’s designated drop-off points will be recycled into other ag-related products such as field tiles, fence posts, shipping pallets and other useful items.

“IDOA will pick up the containers and chip them into small pieces, and Container Services Network will then take the chips for recycling,” said Runkle.

Metal and household pesticide containers will not be accepted; only clean, dry, high-density polyethylene/#2 plastic containers are eligible. Permanent collection sites have been established for the program at Illinois Valley Supply in Greene County (217-942-6991), Maple City Area Recycling in Warren County (309-734-8423), Wabash Valley Service Co. in Wayne County (618-446-5160) and Randolph Ag Service in McLean County (309-473-3256). For a complete list of one-day recycling locations and dates, call the IDOA for a free brochure toll-free at (800) 641-3934.

In addition, IFCA is launching a new recycling program in September for mini-bulk agrichemical containers of up to 300 gallons, according to Runkle. “We’re working to put together collection sites with about eight locations here in Illinois,” said Runkle. “The program is for ag retailers or anyone looking to recycle 30-gallon or larger containers.”

For more information on the IFCA’s planned recycling program for larger containers, contact Runkle at 309-827-2774.