Rinsing and Recycling Agricultural Chemical Containers

Disposal options for empty agricultural chemical containers are becoming more limited in Texas, so government and industry are promoting and researching alternatives such as recycling.

Agricultural chemical containers come in many shapes and sizes and may be made of paper, metal, or plastic. Empty paper containers cannot be reconditioned or recycled; take them to an authorized incinerator or landfill. Metal and plastic containers can be reconditioned or recycled if they are properly rinsed.

Why should I rinse my empty containers?

Rinsing containers is required by law, but it is a simple, essential step before they can be recycled or disposed. Rinsing them can minimize health and environmental risks, as well as save money by ensuring that none of your agricultural chemical product is wasted.

How do I rinse my containers?

  1. Read and follow the label instructions, as well as federal, state, and local regulations.
  2. Wear the recommended personal protection and safety gear when handling any agricultural chemical product. Be extremely careful not to spill any of the chemical or container rinse water (or other solution) on yourself or on the ground.
  3. Rinse containers as soon as they are empty. Some residues can become difficult or impossible to remove after they dry inside the container. Pour all rinse water (or other solution) directly into the spray tank and use the resulting mixture in a manner consistent with the instructions on the product label. As much as 2 to 4 ounces of product can remain in an unrinsed container.
  4. Rinse containers away from water, food, and feed sources where people, animals, soil, water, or air may be adversely affected by a spill if one should occur.
  5. Triple or pressure rinse all empty containers. Both federal and state laws require that agricultural chemical containers be triple rinsed or rinsed at high pressure before disposal, reconditioning, or recycling them. When done properly, either method removes more than 99 percent of the product that remains in empty containers.

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What is triple rinsing?

Triple rinsing simply means rinsing the container three times. To triple rinse:

  1. Remove the container cover or lid.
  2. Pour all the product into the spray tank and let the container drain for at least 30 seconds.
  3. Add clean water or another label-recommended rinsing solution to the container at an amount that equals approximately 10 to 20 percent of the total volume of the container.
  4. Secure the lid, then swirl, shake, or roll the container to rinse all interior surfaces.

What is high-pressure rinsing?

High-pressure rinsing is a fast, effective, and approved alternative to triple rinsing. This method uses a special spray nozzle attached to the end of a hose, which has a backflow device installed on its line. It consists of three steps:

  1. Empty the product from the container into the spray tank and allow the container to drain for at least 30 seconds.
  2. Holding the container upside down over the spray tank, insert the pressure nozzle into the bottom of the container.
  3. Depress the nozzle’s triggering mechanism and rinse the container for the length of time recommended by the manufacturer, generally 30 seconds or more.

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What do I do with my rinsed containers?

Once the container has been either triple- or pressure-rinsed, you should:

  • Dispose of the rinsed lid with other household trash.
  • Remove foil seals, detachable handles, and labels from the containers.
  • Store the clean containers in a dry, secure area away from any food, feed, or water supplies, until they can be recycled, reconditioned, or disposed of properly.

Who recycles these containers?

Many scrap iron and steel recyclers throughout Texas may accept and recycle properly rinsed, empty, metal, agricultural chemical containers.

Also, the TCEQ, Texas Department of Agriculture Exit the TCEQ, Texas Cooperative Extension Exit the TCEQ, and local river authorities co-sponsor a joint recycling program. Using guidelines from the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), Exit the TCEQ these state agencies locate sites, establish collection dates, and inspect containers for recycling by ACRC contractors.

If you have large quantities of empty pesticide containers (such as cotton trailers), we suggest you directly contact USAg Recycling Exit the TCEQ, a contractor for the ACRC, which promotes the recycling of these containers. The ACRC supports state-level collection programs and works directly with recycling contractors.

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What happens to the recycled containers?

Once collected, containers are granulated into clean, uniform plastic flakes and stored at a designated site. Later they are taken to a recycled-plastics processing facility and made into pellets. The ACRC researches beneficial uses for recycled pesticide containers such as these items:

  • new pesticide containers,
  • fence posts,
  • signposts,
  • roofing tiles, and
  • many other products.

When and where are the collections?

For information about collections in your area, please contact the TCEQ's Agricultural Waste Pesticide Collection Program by calling 512-239-3100 or sending e-mail (recycle@tceq.state.tx.us).

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Last Modified 10/16/08
©2002-2008 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.