Illinois Department Of Agriculture To Offer Free Recycling Program For Agrichemical Containers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois farmers soon will have a cheap and convenient opportunity to dispose of their empty agrichemical containers.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture has arranged to offer a free pesticide container recycling program this summer.  Beginning in late July, sites throughout the state will collect the containers and grind them into small plastic chips that will be used to make shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing, plastic lumber and hazardous waste drums.   

"This award-winning program reached a milestone last year with the collection of its two millionth agrichemical container," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said.  "It's a perfect example of the effort Illinois farmers are making to protect our environment."

Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for the recycling program.  Collection sites will accept only high-density polyethylene, #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 is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK, Inc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Tri-Rinse, Inc., Illinois Farm Bureau and University of Illinois Extension.

To obtain a free brochure about the program, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture toll free at 1-800-641-3934.

The collection sites and dates for the 2007 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are as follows:

Permanent collection sites:

County Location City  Contact Phone #
Greene Illinois Valley Supply Carrollton John Quandt 217-942-6991  McLean Randolph Ag Service Heyworth Dee Hamilton 309-473-3256
Warren Maple City Area Recycling Monmouth Kevin Lovdahl 309-734-8423
Wayne Wabash Valley Service Co. Ellery Mike Wilson 618-446-5160
                   
Single-day collection sites:

AM:  indicates collection site hours are from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
PM:  indicates collection site hours are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

County Date Time Location City Contact Phone #
Pike 7/30 PM Two Rivers FS Pittsfield Mike Smith 217-285-4477
Morgan 7/31 AM Lincoln Land FS Jacksonville Keith Fricke217-243-6561
Cass 7/31 PM Sunrise Ag Serv.Virginia Mike Beck 217-452-7751
Schuyler8/1 AM Two Rivers FS RushvilleAaron Winner 217-322-2024
Hancock 8/1 PM Chem-Gro Bowen Todd Nelson 217-842-5514
McDonough8/2 AM UAP Richter Blandinsville Lee Ward 309-652-3694
Mercer 8/2 PM Gold Star FS Aledo Greg Howard 309-582-7271
Henry 8/3 AM Gateway Coop Galva Mark VanDeVelde 309-932-2081
Whiteside 8/6 PM Gold Star FS Lyndon Fritz Oncken 815-778-3331
Stephenson 8/7 AM Dakota Co-op Dakota Tom Wells 815-449-2254
Winnebago 8/7 PM Conserv FS Rockford Bernie Parisot 815-963-7669
McHenry 8/8 AM Conserv FS Marengo Jeff Kimmel 815-568-7211
Lee 8/8 PM Hintzsche Fert. Scarboro       Brock Sanderson 815-824-2266
LaSalle 8/9 AM Grainco FS Inc. Lostant Steve Puetz 815-368-3215
Woodford 8/9 PM Evergreen FS Minonk Melvin Feazel 309-432-2592
Peoria 8/13 PM Agland FS Hanna City Mark Alvey 309-565-4315
Tazewell 8/14 AM Agland FS Green Valley Tim Dare 309-352-2700
Tazewell 8/14 PM DCM Crop Care Deer Creek George Clark 309-447-6456
Livingston 8/15 AM CPS     Saunemin   Steve Schaffer 815-832-4491
Kankakee 8/15 PM Chebanse Ag Chebanse Dean Schafer 815-697-2392
Iroquois8/16 AM Weber Fertilizer Buckley Delmar Ecker 217-394-2042
Clark 8/17 AM Effingham Equity Marshal Rodney Schultz 217-342-3123
Jefferson 8/27 PM Mt. Vernon Elev.Mt. Vernon Danny Farmer 618-244-1146
Randolph8/28 AM Bockhorn Ag Sparta Cheri Brewer 618-443-3905
Monroe 8/28 PM Gateway FS  Waterloo  Jerry Roosevelt 618-282-4000
Clinton 8/29 AM CPS New Baden Jeff Haas 618-588-3525
Madison 8/29 PM Madison Serv. Co.Marine  Mike Sager 618-887-4275
Fayette 8/30 AM Woolsey BrothersVandalia  Herb Woolsey 618-283-1263
Christian 8/30 PM Effingham Equity  Pana Steve Morrell 217-562-5011
Macoupin 8/31 AM M & M Service Girard Zane Rutherford 217-627-2151