Waste Management Program
Address
Division of Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
United States
Email
Pesticide applicators generally have questions about what to do with empty pesticide containers. Pesticide dealers will often take back large, empty, bulk-refillable containers, but smaller, empty containers are usually left for the consumer to address. Taking actions to safely manage empty pesticide containers helps protect human health and our state’s water, air and land resources.
Under no circumstances should pesticide containers be burned. Missouri law prohibits the burning of pesticide containers, even on your own property. Pesticide containers can release highly toxic fumes and harmful residue when burned, even if the container has been properly rinsed.
Triple Rinsing
Most labels state to triple rinse your empty containers and pour the rinse water into your sprayer tank for future application. Empty containers that have been triple rinsed can be disposed in a sanitary landfill, recycled or dispose by other methods allowed by the state.
For a step-by-step guide to triple rinsing containers, review the How to Perform the Manual Triple Rinse video. For information on managing pesticide rinsate, review Pesticide Rinsate Management – PUB2870.
Container Recycling
Recycling pesticide containers is the preferred option. Recycling containers supports jobs and creates reusable products, such as field drain pipe and pallets. Once containers have been properly rinsed per label requirements, they can be recycled at an active, container collection site. Pesticide containers should not be mixed in with plastics from residential recycling programs because potential harmful residues can remain in pesticide containers.
Finding recycling outlets can be challenging depending on what part of the state you are in and the quantity of containers you have to offer. Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) is an industry-funded, not-for-profit organization that safely collects and recycles agricultural crop protection, animal health and specialty pest control product containers (jugs and drums) throughout the United States.
ACRC accepts containers up to 55 gallons in size. Contractors hired by ACRC carry out the actual collection and processing of containers. To find a contractor in Missouri, contact ACRC at 877-952-2272 or use ACRC's Collection Contractors map.
If you are a crop grower or applicator and have less than 1,500 pounds of pesticide containers to dispose at any one time, contact your local ag dealer. Also, your pesticide supplier or local agriculture supply store may participate in ACRC's recycling program, providing a place to drop off small amounts of pesticide containers.
For recycling plastic pesticide containers larger than 55 gallons, including intermediate bulk containers, visit The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance website to find contact information for recycling companies in Missouri.
Container Disposal
Empty pesticide containers may be disposed as regular solid waste in the trash, provided they were triple-rinsed first. After triple rinsing, the cap should be removed and a slit cut into the container. This allows the collection/ disposal company to easily verify the container is empty and also prevents container re-use.