Nebraska

Farmers and other pesticide applicators can recycle empty, plastic pesticide containers at 42 collection sites across Nebraska this year.

This is the 14th year for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension plastic pesticide container and crop protection drum recycling program.

"Growing awareness and participation in the program have helped us collect and recycle nearly 638 tons of plastic containers," said Larry Schulze, UNL Extension pesticide coordinator. Last year alone, the program recycled more than 77 tons of plastic containers.

"Large quantities of plastic are being recycled through this program each year in Nebraska. There is a strong commitment to environmental stewardship by many pesticide applicators and agri-chemical dealers, but we would like to see participation climb even higher, since each drum or container recycled is one less that might end up littering the environment or possibly contaminating surface or groundwater," Schulze said.

To help farmers and applicators find recycling sites and other program information, UNL's Pesticide Education Resources website has expanded program information. New features at http://pested.unl.edu/recycle.htm include guidelines, participant roles and details about pesticide container inspection process.

Plastic from collected containers is turned into products such as shipping pallets, drain tile, dimension lumber and parking lot tire bumpers.

The program accepts pressure-rinsed or triple-rinsed 1- and 2.5-gallon plastic pesticide containers. They must be dry and clean, inside and out. Caps, labels and slip-cover plastic labels must be removed since they cannot be recycled in this program.

Twenty-six of this year's 42 collection sites accept 15, 30 and 55-gallon plastic crop protection chemical, crop oil and adjuvant drums.

These drums must be thoroughly rinsed before delivery to collection sites and should not be cut or opened in any way.

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

Before delivering containers to a collection site, 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.

Schulze coordinates the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources program with the help of UNL extension educators. Funding is by a national coalition of agri-chemical manufacturers through the Agricultural Container Recycling Council.

Of this year's collection sites, nine collect year-around, 13 collect May through August, 18 collect on specific dates and two collect by appointment only.

Sites are listed alphabetically by county below. Sites accepting 15- and 30-gallon plastic drums are noted. Year-round inspection, collection sites:

--Buffalo: Kearney Recycling Center, Kearney, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

--Burt: Tekamah City Compactor, Tekamah, Tuesday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 2 to 6 p.m.

--Cuming: West Point Transfer Station, West Point, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; accepts drums.

--Dawson: All Points Cooperative, Lexington and Overton, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both sites accept drums.

--Lincoln: North Platte Transfer Station, North Platte, Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., except holidays.

--Saunders: Cedar Ridge Spraying, Ashland, business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.

--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 inspection, collection sites:

--Antelope: Central Valley Ag Co-op, Brunswick, Clearwater, Elgin, Neligh and Tilden.

--Butler: Frontier Co-op (Yanka), David City.

--Gage: Hasenkamp Agricultural Co. and Southeast Nebraska Cooperative, Beatrice; both sites accept drums.

--Jefferson: Farmers Cooperative Agronomy Center, Fairbury and Farmers Co-op Elevator, Plymouth. Both sites accept drums.

--Lancaster: Countryside Co-op, Firth; accepts drums.

--Sarpy: Farmers Union Co-op, Gretna.

--Saunders: Frontier Cooperative, Mead; accepts drums.

Sites collecting, inspecting pesticide containers on specific days:

--Adams: Heartland Co-op, Juniata, Aug. 18 and 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.

--Boone: Country Partners Co-op, Cedar Rapids, May through July, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

--Clay: Heartland Co-op, Sutton, Aug. 18 and 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.

--Colfax: Schuyler Cooperative, Richland, May 14, June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, 8 a.m. to noon; Husker Co-op Fertilizer, Schuyler, May 14, June 11, July 9, Aug. 13, 8 a.m. to noon.

--Dakota: Northeast Cooperative, Emerson, June and July, Wednesday, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; Northeast Cooperative, South Sioux City, June and July, Wednesday, 11 a.m. to noon. Both sites accept drums.

--Dixon: Precision Agronomy, Newcastle, June to Aug. 24, Wednesday; Northeast Co-op, Ponca, June to Aug. 24, Wednesday. Both sites accept drums.

--Dodge: Frontier Cooperative, Fremont, June 1 to Sept. 15, Friday, 1 to 4 p.m., or by appointment.

--Hamilton: Aurora Cooperative Elevator, Aurora, July through Aug. 19, Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Heartland Cooperative, Giltner, Aug. 11 and 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both sites accept drums.

--Kearney: Heartland Co-op, Minden, Aug. 11 and 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; accepts drums.

--Knox: Precision Agronomy, Bloomfield, June to Aug. 24, Wednesday; accepts drums.

--Lancaster: Farmers Cooperative Co., Bennet, July 29, 9 a.m. to noon; Farmers Cooperative Co., Waverly, July 9, 9 a.m. to noon. Both sites accept drums.

--Thurston: Mother Earth Recycling Center, Macy, June and July, Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon; accepts drums.

--Wayne: Precision Agronomy, Wayne, June to Aug. 24, Wednesday.

Sites collecting, inspecting pesticide containers by appointment only:

--Brown: Ainsworth Transfer Station, Ainsworth, 402-387-2213.

--Lancaster: Lancaster County Extension Office, Lincoln, 402-441-7180; accepts drums.

Date: 6/21/05

	Web hpj.com

Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008.  High Plains Publishers, Inc.  All rights reserved.  Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com