StewardshipFirst – Mini-Bulk Recycling: TPSA Tool Makes It Easier

Source: CropLife America

The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA) has launched a “one stop” website providing the ins and outs of recycling mini-bulk agriculture chemical containers. Mini-bulk containers are also called intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). TPSA launched the site to provide information on the patchwork of IBC recycling programs across the country, which are run by container manufacturers, reconditioners and recyclers as well as pesticide manufacturers and distributors.

Sarah McLallen, executive director of the CropLife Foundation, noted “having accurate information on the details of various IBC recycling programs is a valuable resource.” The information is presented in a number of different ways on the site, allowing pesticide users and other interested parties to find all of the container companies operating in their state and download files with contact information for container companies and pesticide manufacturers and distributors.

TPSA recommends that the plastic from pesticide IBCs be handled according to the American National Standards Institute/American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ANSI/ASABE) Standard S596: Recycling Plastic Pesticide Containers from Pesticides and Pesticide-Related Products. TPSA further recommends that the recycled plastic be used in North America to produce end use products identified in the ANSI/ASABE standard, such as marine or bridge pilings, field drain pipe or fence posts.

The CropLife StewardshipFirst program is a commitment by the crop protection industry to provide safe, healthy and plentiful crops that feed and clothe a growing population. StewardshipFirst was created to promote and advance sustainable agriculture and the environmentally sound use of crop protection products. It is hoped that through science-based discovery, StewardshipFirst will help global agriculture economically produce safe, high quality, abundant food, fiber, and other crops, thus ensuring food security and alleviating poverty, suffering and hardship. Learn more at www.stewardshipfirst.org.