The Illinois Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to save their empty agrichemical containers rather than discard them.
The department recently announced the schedule for the 2010 Pesticide Container Recycling Program. Beginning in early August, sites throughout the state will collect the containers and grind them into small plastic chips that will be used to make shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing, plastic lumber and other useful products.
"This program offers farmers a convenient way to dispose of empty pesticide containers and protect the environment at the same time," Agriculture Director Tom Jennings says. "I encourage them to gather any containers that they may have been planning to throw in the garbage and take them to the nearest collection site."
Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for the recycling program. Collection sites will accept only high-density polyethylene, #2 plastic, agrichemical containers that are clean and dry. Participants are responsible for rinsing them and removing all caps, labels, booklets and foil seals.
The program is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, Growmark, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Container Services Network, Illinois Farm Bureau and University of Illinois Extension.
To obtain a free brochure about the program, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture toll free at 1-800-641-3934. The collection sites and dates for the 2010 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are as follows.
Permanent collection sites
Greene County - Illinois Valley Supply, Carrollton
John Quandt 217-942-6991
Lawrence County - Klein Flying Service, Lawrenceville
Robert Klein 618-943-2189
McLean County - Randolph Ag Service, Heyworth
Dee Hamilton 309-473-3256
Warren County - Maple City Area Recycling, Monmouth
Kevin Lovdahl 309-734-8423
Single Day Collection Sites
AM Site hours are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
PM Site hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Date / Time / Location / Contact
8/2 PM Two Rivers FS Mike Smith
Pike Pittsfield 217-285-4477
8/3 AM Lincoln Land FS Dick Stilts
Morgan Jacksonville 217-243-6561
8/3 PM Sunrise Ag Mike Schone
Cass Virginia 217-452-3936
8/4 AM Two Rivers FS Aaron Winner
Schuyler Rushville 217-322-2024
8/4 PM Chem-Gro Todd Nelson
Hancock Bowen 217-842-5514
8/5 AM CPS Travis Weaver
McDonough Blandinsville 309-652-3694
8/6 AM Gold Star FS Dave Cooper
Mercer Aledo 309-582-7271
8/9 PM River Valley Coop Chad Wexell
Henry Galva 309-737-0337
8/10 AM Gold Star FS Jim Anderson
Whiteside Lyndon 815-778-3331
8/10 PM Pearl City Elevator Mark Wells
Stephenson Dakota 815-449-2254
8/11 AM Conserv FS Jeff Baxter
Winnebago Rockford 815-963-7669
8/11 PM Conserv FS Jeff Kimmel
McHenry Marengo 815-568-7211
8/12 AM Hintzsche Fert. Dan Moore
DeKalb Kirkland 815-522-3251
8/12 PM Grainco FS Steve Puetz
LaSalle Lostant 815-368-3215
8/13 AM Evergreen FS Melvin Feazel
Woodford Minonk 309-432-2592
8/23 PM Agland FS Mark Alvey
Peoria Hanna City 309-565-4315
8/24 AM Agland FS Tim Dare
Tazewell Green Valley 309-352-2700
8/24 PM DCM Crop Care George Clark
Tazewell Deer Creek 309-447-6456
8/25 AM CPS Steve Schaffer
Livingston Saunemin 815-832-4491
8/26 AM Chebanse Ag Dean Schafer
Kankakee Chebanse 815-697-2392
8/26 PM Weber Fertilizer Delmar Ecker
Iroquois Buckley 217-394-2042
8/27 AM United Prairie Matt Van Osdell
Champaign Tolono 217-485-6000
8/30 PM Effingham Equity Rodney Schultz
Effingham Montrose 217-342-3123
8/31 AM Bockhorn Ag Leslie Reiman
Randolph Sparta 618-443-3905
8/31 PM Gateway FS Jerry Roosevelt
Monroe Waterloo 618-282-4000
9/1 AM CPS Jeff Haas
Clinton New Baden 618-588-3525
9/1 PM Madison Service Mike Sager
Madison Marine 618-887-4275
9/2 AM Woolsey Brothers Herb Woolsey
Fayette Vandalia 618-283-1263
9/2 PM Effingham Equity Rodney Schultz
Christian Pana 217-342-3123
9/3 AM M & M Service Zane Rutherford
Macoupin Girard 217-627-2151