By DEBORAH BEHRENDS
Illinois Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to save rather than discard empty agrichemical containers. The department recently announced it has arranged to recycle the containers at locations around the state.
Beginning in late July, the containers will be collected and ground them into small plastic chips used to make shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing, plastic lumber and other useful products.

“This program offers farmers a convenient opportunity to dispose of empty pesticide containers and demonstrate their environmental stewardship,” Agriculture Director Tom Jennings said. “I would 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, No. 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 has occurred for a number of years, according Jeff Kimmel of Conserv FS of Marengo, Ill. The McHenry County cooperative participates “as a service to the community, a goodwill gesture,” he said.

Kimmel said the number of participants varies from year to year, anywhere from a dozen to more than 50 bringing in the containers.
Dan Moore, operations manager at Hintzsche Fertilizer in Kirkland, Ill., said they’ve offered the service “for a number of years,” as well.

A large part of what is recycled is our own stuff. Otherwise, we have maybe half a dozen producers bringing in containers,” Moore said.
The program is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Container Services Network, Illinois Farm Bureau and University of Illinois Extension.

Four permanent sites offer the recycling service. They are: Illinois Valley Supply, Carrollton; Randolph Ag Service, Heyworth; Maple City Area Recycling, Monmouth and Wabash Valley Service Co., Ellery. Single-day collection sites offer recycling in the morning or in the afternoon:

•July 27 - Two Rivers FS, Pittsfield, 1-4 p.m.; July 28 - Lincoln Land FS, Jacksonville, 8-11 a.m. and  Sunrise Ag, Virginia, 1-4 p.m.
•July 29 - Two Rivers FS, Rushville, 8-11 a.m.; Chem-Gro, Bowen, 1-4 p.m.
•July 30 - CPS, Blandinsville, 8-11 a.m.; Gold Star FS, Aledo, 1-4 p.m.
•July 31 - River Valley Coop, Galva. 8-11 a.m.
•Aug. 3 - Gold Star FS, Lyndon, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 4 - Pearl City Elevator, Dakota. 8-11 a.m.; Conserv FS, Rockford, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 5 - Conserv FS, Marengo; Hintzsche Fertilizer, Kirkland, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 6 - Grainco FS, Lostant;  Evergreen FS, Minonk, 1 to 4 p.m.
•Aug. 10 - Agland FS, Hanna City.
•Aug. 11 - Agland FS, Green Valley, 8-11 a.m.; DCM Crop Care, Deer Creek, 1-4 p.m.;
•Aug. 12 - CPS, Saunemin, 8-11 a.m.; Chebanse Ag, Chebanse, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 13 - Weber Fertilizer, Buckley, 8-11 a.m.; Illini FS, Leverett, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 14 - Evergreen FS, Maroa, 8 a.m.
•Aug. 24 - Effingham Equity, Montrose, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 25 – Klein Flying Service, Lawrenceville, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 26 – Bockhorn Ag, Sparta;  Gateway FS, Waterloo, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 27 – CPS, New Baden 8-11 a.m.; Madison Service, Marine, 1-4 p.m.
•Aug. 28 – Woolsey Brothers, Vandalia; Effingham Equity, Pana, 1-4 p.m.
•Sept. 1 –M&M Service, Girard 8-11 a.m.