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Development of a National Pesticide Container Recycling Standard

Development of a National Pesticide Container Recycling Standard. Pesticide Applicator Certification and Safety Education Workshop August 18, 2005 Nancy Fitz, U.S. EPA Larry Schulze, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln. Overview. Current status of pesticide container recycling

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Development of a National Pesticide Container Recycling Standard

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  1. Development of a National Pesticide Container Recycling Standard Pesticide Applicator Certification and Safety Education WorkshopAugust 18, 2005 Nancy Fitz, U.S. EPA Larry Schulze, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln

  2. Overview • Current status of pesticide container recycling • Development of a national consensus standard on pesticide container recycling • Discussion

  3. Status: What is the ACRC? • The Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) was formed in 1992 to manage the collection and recycling of one-way HDPE (plastic) crop protection and other pesticide containers. • The ACRC is a non-profit organization funded by members of CropLife America. • ACRC’s annual budget is $3.99 million. • ACRC sampled collected plastic to determine residues; use this data in risk assessment model to determine acceptable end uses for the plastic.

  4. Status: Which containers are recycled by ACRC? • Plastic: High density polyethylene (HDPE) - #2 • Containers that held insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, stickers, spreaders, anti-foaming agents, crop oils, and micro-nutrients. • Size: A few ounces to 55-gal drums. • Accept containers from: • Farmers who grow food, fiber and ornamentals. • Forest, lawn care, right-of-way, golf course and structural pest control applicators.

  5. Status: Amount Collected per Year

  6. Status: ACRC Results • Since 1992, more than 74 million pounds of plastic have been safely recycled. • Consistently collect over 6.5 million pounds per year; almost 8 million in 2004. • More than 80 cents of every dollar is spent directly on collecting containers. • End uses include field drain tiles, speed bumps, parking stops, treated lumber substitutes for low-exposure outdoor applications (marine pilings, fence posts, etc.)

  7. Status: Current Challenges • Non-level playing field: ACRC collects all industry plastic, even that belonging to non-members. In 2004, a CLA member resigned because of this. • ACRC’s budget of $3.99 M can pay for a certain amount of plastic (around 8 million lbs.) Higher collection rate in 2005, so some collections cut off before end of year. • ACRC is investigating more economical methods of collecting plastic in areas of low container concentration.

  8. Consensus Standard: Background • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASAE) is an accredited standard-setting organization • Goal: develop a standard for safely and effectively recycling plastic pesticide containers • Focused on the technical/process/safety aspects • Based on 10+ years of ACRC’s experience recycling agricultural pesticide & pesticide-related product containers

  9. Consensus Standard: Committee • Co-chairs: Nancy Fitz (EPA) and Johnny Berry (Syngenta) • Facilitator: Russ Hahn (independent) • Ag engineers: DuPont, Ohio State, USDA, VA Tech • AAPCO/SFIREG: AZ, NE, NY • AAPSE: GA, NE • ACRC: Chair, ex-chair of technical committee, communication lead, container manufacturer, technical expert • ASAE: Ex Officio participant • CLA: Stewardship chair • CPDA: President + 3 companies • EPA: OPP & OSW

  10. Consensus Standard: Scope of Draft Standard • Scope • Plastic (HDPE) nonrefillable containers up to 56 gal. • Pesticides labeled for agriculture, forestry, vegetative management, and structural pest control and pesticide-related products (adjuvants such as crop oils, stickers, spreaders, and surfactants) • These are containers that CAN safely & effectively be recycled according to the standard. • Not saying that these containers MUST be handled according to the standard.

  11. Consensus Standard: Draft Standard • Standard will define “processes” with necessary safeguards: • Rinsing • Preparing rinsed containers • Collection • Inspection • Rejecting unacceptable containers • Volume reduction (e.g., granulation) • Transportation • Storage • Processing • Determining acceptable end-use products • Manufacturing end-use products • Recordkeeping

  12. Consensus Standard: Schedule • April/May: Created committee with broad representation • May 24: Intro conference call • June 20-21: Meeting to discuss strawman document • July 7: Meeting to finish discussing strawman document • Late July: Circulate revised draft standard • August: Email/conference call discussion • September: Meeting to finalize document • December: Complete ASAE review process

  13. Consensus Standard: Implications • The standard will establish a baseline for how to recycle plastic pesticide containers safely and effectively (e.g., if new organizations or companies start recycling programs). • By itself, the standard will not solve the current challenges. • Once approved, the ASAE standard will be a tool that state/federal policy makers could use.

  14. Consensus Standard: More Info • ACRC program • http://www.acrecycle.org/ • ASAE • http://www.asae.org/ • ASAE Container Recycling Standard (X596) • Nancy Fitz, 703-305-7385, fitz.nancy@epa.gov

  15. Discussion • What are the biggest issues you see with pesticide container recycling? • Is the scope of the draft ASAE standard appropriate? • Are the processes/steps in the draft standard appropriate? • Other suggestions or feedback?

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