September 15, 2013
A popular pesticide container recycling program for farmers is being expanded to include empty and clean fertilizer containers.

Clean Farms is accepting plastic fertilizer jugs and pails under 23 litres as part of its annual recycling program.

“Over the years we have seen farmers bring fertilizer containers into collection sites so we knew there was a need to expand our program. It’s great to see members of the fertilizer industry step up and support this initiative,” says Barry Friesen, general manager of Clean Farms, the industry stewardship organization that operates the program.

“The empty pesticide container recycling program has had a huge impact in terms of keeping waste out of landfills and protecting the environment. The empty fertilizer container collection program will build on this,” says Friesen.
Every year, approximately 4.5 million empty, triple-rinsed plastic pesticide containers are safely recycled into items that can be used back on the farm, such as farm drainage tile.

Clean Farms encourages farmers to follow ‘three easy’ steps in order to ensure the containers they return can be properly recycled. Farmers are asked to triple or pressure rinse containers to remove all product, remove the cap and label, and return the containers to the nearest collection sites. A full list of collection sites can be found at www.cleanfarms.ca.