Gering Landfill is one of seven sites across the state of Nebraska that accepts empty plastic pesticide containers for recycling year around.

UNL Extension and partners begin their 17th year recycling plastic pesticide containers and drums. The recycling program that helps recycle one and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers and 15-, 30- and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical drums, said UNL pesticide safety educator Clyde Ogg, who coordinates the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources program. There are 39 collection sites in Nebraska. Seven sites collect containers year around, 15 collect May through August, 13 collect on specific dates and three collect by appointment only.

Plastic from collected containers is turned into industrial and consumer products such as shipping pallets, drain tile, dimension lumber and parking lot tire bumpers. Last year, the UNL program helped recycle more than 70 tons of containers, contributing to a 16-year total of over 800 tons of containers, Ogg said. To help farmers and pesticide applicators find recycling sites and other program information, UNL's Pesticide Education Resources Web site includes guidelines, participant roles and recycling and program details. CLICK HERE to learn more about the pesticide container recycling program.

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.

Mini-bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks, which can be made of fiberglass or plastics not compatible with the recycling program, are not accepted.

Program funding is by a national coalition of agri-chemical manufacturers through the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, Washington, D.C.



Year-round collection sites: Buffalo: Kearney Recycling Center, Kearney, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cuming: West Point Transfer Station, West Point, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon, 1 to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; accepts drums. Dawson: All Points Cooperative, Gothenburg and Lexington, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums. Lincoln: North Platte Transfer Station, North Platte, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays. Scotts Bluff: Gering Landfill, Gering, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; accepts drums. Washington: Blair Recycling Center, Blair, Saturday 8 a.m. to noon; accepts drums. May-August collection sites: Antelope: Central Valley Ag Co-op, Brunswick, Clearwater, Elgin, Neligh and Tilden. Boone: Country Partners Co-op, Cedar Rapids; accepts drums. Butler: Frontier Co-op (Yanka), David City. Gage: United Agri Products, Beatrice. Southeast Nebraska Cooperative, Beatrice. Jefferson: Farmers Cooperative Fairbury Branch, Fairbury. Lancaster: Countryside Co-op, Firth. Perkins: Cornhusker Ag Aviation, Grant; accepts drums. Sarpy: Farmers Union Co-op, Gretna; accepts drums. Saunders: Frontier Cooperative, Mead and UAP Distribution, Ashland; accepts drums. Sites collecting pesticide containers on specific days: Adams: Cooperative Producers Inc., Juniata, Aug. 14 and 15, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums. Cass: Wiles Bros. Fertilizer Inc., Plattsmouth, Fridays, July and August, 8 a.m. to noon; accepts drums Clay: Cooperative Producers Inc., Sutton, Aug. 21 and 22. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums. Dakota: Central Valley Ag, Emerson, June and July, Wednesdays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Central Valley Ag, South Sioux City, June and July, Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to noon; both sites accept drums. Dixon: Central Valley Ag, Newcastle, May 8 and 22, June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24, Aug. 14 and 28, 8 a.m. to noon. Central Valley Ag, Wakefield, June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, Aug. 6, 1-4 p.m. Dodge: Frontier Cooperative, North Bend, Fridays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June through October, accepts drums. Hamilton: Cooperative Producers Inc., Giltner, Aug. 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accept drums. Kearney: Cooperative Producers Inc., Minden, Aug. 7 and 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums. Lancaster: Farmers Cooperative Co., Bennet, July 25, 9 a.m. to noon; Farmers Cooperative Co., Waverly, June 27, 9 a.m. to noon. Both sites accept drums. Thurston: Mother Earth Recycling Center, Macy, June and July, Wednesdays 10 a.m. to noon; accepts drums. Sites collecting pesticide containers by appointment only: Brown: Ainsworth Transfer Station, Ainsworth, (402) 387-2213. Lancaster: Lancaster County Extension Office, Lincoln, (402) 441-7180; accepts drums. Saline: Farmers Co-op, Wilber, (402) 821-2351