Rinse and repeat. No, these aren't the directions on a shampoo label. These are the instructions given to farmers who plan to recycle their pesticide containers. The Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service and Oklahoma Department of Agriculture sponsor a recycling program to help reduce the number of pesticide containers put in landfills and to help protect the environment.
"Oklahoma is part of a nationwide recycling effort supported by the Agricultural Container Research Council," said Melinda Crockett, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension agent. 

In 1992, the ACRC began collecting and recycling many of the 35 million plastic containers used by farmers each year. The ACRC has worked with the Environmental Protection Agency, state environmental regulatory agencies, and departments of agriculture and natural resources to develop proper rinsing and storage techniques and to provide this information to the public.

The Oklahoma pesticide container recycling program began in 1996 with 12 one-day collections and 4,650 pounds of plastic containers collected. Each year the number of recycled containers has grown. 

"In two years we have more than doubled the pounds of containers collected," Crockett said.

In 1998, the number of collection sites increased to include 26 sites across the state. Because of the additional sites, the pesticide container recycling program was able to increase the collection volume to 11,840 pounds of recycled containers. Semi-permanent collection sites are planned across the state to increase these numbers even more.

Proper rinsing is the key to the recycling program, she said. Correctly rinsed containers are classified as clean, solid waste. Containers that have any residue left in them are considered hazardous waste and cannot be recycled.

"Proper rinsing also benefits the farmer," said Jim Criswell, associate professor of entomology at OSU and extension pesticide coordinator. "By rinsing the container so that it drains into the spray tank, more of the product is used and less money is wasted."

The ACRC contracts collectors to pick up, grind and transport the containers to recyclers. USAg Recycling from Houston, Texas, is the contractor for all Oklahoma collection sites.

Education about pesticide container recycling will help everyone see that the instructions "rinse and repeat" make "cents."

By Shelly Holland

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