UNL Extension sets pesticide recycling dates

Lincoln “Two million pounds of plastic pesticide containers no longer threaten Nebraska's environment and landscape.  That's the amount of empty, plastic pesticide containers a University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension program has helped collect and recycle from across Nebraska over the past 20 years. The UNL program helps recycle 1- and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers and 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical drums.

 

Plastic from collected containers is turned into industrial and consumer products like shipping pallets, drain tile, dimension lumber and parking lot tire bumpers. Last year, the UNL program helped recycle about 35 tons of containers. A full list of recycling sites, guidelines and program information and details is on UNL's Pesticide Safety Education Program Web site at http://pested.unl.edu/recycling.

 

The program accepts pressure-rinsed or triple-rinsed 1- and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers. They must be clean and drained, inside and out. Caps, labels and slipcover plastic labels must be removed since they cannot be recycled as part of the program. They should be disposed of as solid waste.  Before delivery to collection sites, containers and drums should be cleaned, rinsed and drained. Rinsate should be returned to the spray tank. Remove and properly dispose of booklets and caps from containers and remove and properly dispose of plastic shrink-wraps. Glued-on paper labels can be left on the container.

 

Area year-around collection sites: Kearney Recycling Center, Kearney, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Area sites collecting pesticide containers on specific days: Cooperative Producers Inc., Giltner, Aug. 1-2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Aurora Cooperative, Aurora, July 23-27, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cooperative Producers Inc., Minden, Aug. 7-9, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.  Area sites collecting pesticide containers by appointment only: Custer County Recycling Center, Broken Bow, (308) 870-0313; accepts drums.