Michigan's Pesticide Container Recycling Program

This national program is supported by the principal agri-chemical companies and through state fees assessed on the sale of pesticides and nitrogen fertilizers, and is a good example of cooperation and coordination among growers, agri-businesses, state government, and state and national associations. Michigan has collected and recycled 1,370,574 pounds (over 84,800 lbs. in 2012) of properly-rinsed plastic containers since 1993.  Through a network of agri-businesses and conservation districts, growers are able to easily return their used, properly cleaned plastic containers for recycling. Even as we prepare for planting season, it is never too early to remember to set aside empty plastic containers for recycling.

Recycled pesticide containers are ground, and used for various products, including hazardous waste drums, speed bumps, construction site mats, sound barriers and "new" pesticide containers amongst other products. 

The program accepts all pesticide containers up to 56 gallon (plastic) drums under the regular program. There are three easy steps before recycling containers:

1. Remove any metal or other loose pieces on larger containers as well as any caps and loose labeling from any container, in general.
2. Triple-rinse or pressure rinse empty containers immediately after use. The rinse-water can be used in an appropriate diluted tank mix.
3. Store rinsed containers in a dry area away from wells and water supplies until a pick-up can be arranged or take to a recycling location as soon as possible.

The vendor is picky about what will be accepted.  The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will distribute plastic bags to interested businesses for collection of 5 gallon and smaller containers to facilitate storage and insure that properly prepared containers remain clean until pickup.  These bags should handle approximately 50 - 2 ½ gallon empty, cleaned jugs. 

There are two ways that a participating business/ collection site can request a pickup of stored, clean containers - 1) Contact the current vendor, Container Services Network (CSN) directly at 866-225-6629 or 2) contact MDARD at 517-241-3933.  If your business is interested it is best to contact CSN in the spring so they can include you on their contact list - this facilitates planning to anticipate working your business into their scheduled pick-up routes.  You can also request that they email you a schedule of pickups, which they update a couple of times a month as new requests for pick-ups come in.

If you are a farmer looking for a place to recycle your containers the following offer public drop-off locations or events.  Please contact the Conservation District prior to drop-off to find out local schedules and procedures: 

Once the seasonal schedule is posted (click here for a list of last year's participants) you may contact one of the businesses to see if they will take your jugs.  Prior arrangements are necessary.  

For more information contact Abby Eaton, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environmental Stewardship Division, at (517) 241-3933 or e-mail: eatona@michigan.gov.  Or, check back with this website to see the pick-up schedule as it is updated.