Michigan’s Pesticide Container Recycling Program provides cost-free recycling opportunities for pesticide users to dispose of containers properly and safely.

The program — a partnership between the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program, the Michigan Agri-Business Association, the Ag Container Recycling Council and pesticide users across Michigan — ensures plastics are recycled or converted to other beneficial uses instead of taking up landfill space. It also decreases the likeliness that unclean or improperly stored contents will leach pesticide residue into the environment. 

Since 1993, more than 2.92 million pounds of plastic has been collected as part of the program. The number of agribusinesses participating in the program is on the rise — with 60 participating last year in 114 collection events. These efforts resulted in the recycling of 196,080 pounds of empty, properly cleaned pesticide containers.              

How to participate

The program accepts all pesticide containers up to 55-gallon (plastic) drums under the regular program. Three simple steps must be completed before recycling containers: 

The vendor prefers clean containers are tied together in large bundles using rope or twine and stored in a dry area away from wells and water supplies until collection. 

Large plastic bags to hold jugs are no longer being distributed because of the significant waste stream the bags themselves generate.

Participating business or collection sites can request a pickup of stored, clean containers by contacting G. Phillips and Sons at either 248-961-3360 or [email protected]; or 563-942-0391 or [email protected].

For more information, visit michigan.gov/pesticidecontainerrecycling.

Source: MABA