A common approach at a collection site is to spread a plastic tarp on the ground. Upon arrival, the containers / drums are moved from the vehicle and placed upon the tarp. The inspection process takes place on the tarp. Accepted containers are placed into 4-mil 275-gal plastic bags, then tossed into the temporary storage facility. Any rejected containers or drums are set aside on the tarp until all of the containers are inspected and then are placed back into the vehicle. Rejected containers remain the property of the driver of the vehicle.

Nebraska’s pesticide container recycling program has two major strengths:

1. The educational and promotional program, as coupled with UNL Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), is a fundamental avenue to inform applicators of the recycling program and its guidelines. The network of communication among Extension staff and their clientele across the state enhances the success. The message is promoted to the applicators who generate the rinsed and cleaned containers.
   
2. The second strength is the flexibility of the collection structure. Four types of schedules are present in Nebraska. The choice of which schedule to use is dependent upon the wishes of the collection site management at the local level. The four collection schedule types are as follows:

∙ By appointment only
∙ Specific dates and times (one or two-day events) during June, July, and August
∙ Use-season (May to August)
∙ Year-round

Some sites may inspect and collect on any business day during the time period; others do so only on pre-designated days (Friday mornings, for example) across the season or year. The type of schedule that is used is decided by each collection site management and their preferences.

Sometimes, the collection site is at a business that specializes in the recycling of various products. Those operations easily lend themselves to being accessible on all business days. It’s critical in these situations that the plastic pesticide containers be stored separate from all other plastic. 

A very tight inventory control is present in this recycling activity. Inspections are fundamental to assure that high-quality containers are accepted. Containers temporarily stored at a site cannot be baled or crushed. 

Our recycling program cannot sell the plastic to the industry for recycling. There is low market value or demand for it. Instead, the national coalition of pesticide manufacturers is underwriting the expenses in many states to inspect the containers a second time before acceptance, take possession of the plastic, transport and grind it and arrange for recycling into the plastics industry. 

Return to: Nebraska Pesticide Container Recycling