Agrichemical container recycling program         

[JULY 10, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Agriculture's award-winning pesticide container recycling program will reach a milestone this summer with the collection of its 2 millionth container.

The recycling program provides farmers a safe and convenient way to dispose of empty agrichemical containers. Beginning in July, sites throughout Illinois will collect the containers for free and grind them into plastic chips that will be used to make shipping pallets, fence posts, drainage tubing and other useful products.

"This program is an excellent example of the care Illinois farmers are taking to protect our environment," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said. "Without their stewardship, these containers would be dumped in a landfill. Instead, they're being recycled and reused."

More than 1.9 million containers have been recycled since the program started in 1990. The effort was recognized in 2004 by the Illinois Recycling Association, which named the program its Outstanding Statewide Recycling Program for the year.

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 is a cooperative venture between the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Container Recycling Council, Growmark, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Tri-Rinse, 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 [phone].

The collection sites and dates for the 2006 Pesticide Container Recycling Program are listed below.

[Illinois Department of Agriculture news release]

Permanent collection sites

County	Location	Contact
Greene	Illinois Valley Supply, Carrollton	John Quandt, [phone]
McLean	Randolph Ag, Heyworth	Dee Hamilton, [phone]
Warren	Maple City Area Recycling, Monmouth	Kevin Lovdahl, [phone]
Wayne	Wabash Valley, Ellery	Mike Wilson, [phone]

Single-day collection sites

Date	Location	Contact
July 31, 1-4 p.m.	Two Rivers FS, Pittsfield	Mike Smith, [phone]
Aug. 1, 8-11 a.m.	Lincoln Land FS, Jacksonville	Mark Millburg, [phone]
Aug. 1, 1-4 p.m.	Sunrise Ag Service, Virginia	Mike Beck, [phone]
Aug. 2, 8-11 a.m.	Two Rivers FS, Rushville	Aaron Winner, [phone]
Aug. 2, 1-4 p.m.	Chem-Gro, Bowen	Todd Nelson, [phone]
Aug. 3, 8-11 a.m.	UAP Richter, Blandinsville	Lee Ward, [phone]
Aug. 3, 1-4 p.m.	Gold Star FS, Aledo	Greg Howard, [phone]
Aug. 4, 8-11 a.m.	Gateway Coop, Galva	Bob Follis, [phone]
Aug. 7, 1-4 p.m.	Gold Star FS, Lyndon	Fritz Oncken, [phone]
Aug. 8, 8-11 a.m.	Dakota Co-op, Dakota	Tom Wells, [phone]
Aug. 8, 1-4 p.m.	Conserv FS, Rockford	Bernie Parisot, [phone]
Aug. 9, 8-11 a.m.	Conserv FS, Marengo	Jeff Kimmel, [phone]
Aug. 9, 1-4 p.m.	Hintzsche Fertilizer, DeKalb	Ron Hintzsche, [phone]
Aug. 10, 8-11 a.m.	LaSalle County FS, Lostant	Steve Puetz, [phone]
Aug. 10, 1-4 p.m.	Evergreen FS, Minonk	Melvin Feazel, [phone]
Aug. 14, 1-4 p.m.	Agland FS, Hanna City	Mark Alvey, [phone]
Aug. 15, 8-11 a.m.	Agland FS, Green Valley	Mike Neill, [phone]
Aug. 15, 1-4 p.m.	DCM Crop Care, Deer Creek	J. Hendrickson, [phone]
Aug. 16, 8-11 a.m.	CPS, Saunemin	Steve Schaffer, [phone]
Aug. 16, 1-4 p.m.	Weber Fertilizer, Buckley	Delmar Ecker, [phone]
Aug. 17, 1-4 p.m.	Effingham Equity, Effingham	Rodney Schultz, [phone]
Aug. 18, 8-11 a.m.	Woolsey Brothers, Vandalia	Herb Woolsey, [phone]
Aug. 28, 1-4 p.m.	Mount Vernon Elevator, Mount Vernon	Danny Farmer, [phone]
Aug. 29, 8-11 a.m.	Bockhorn Ag, Sparta	Cheri Brewer, [phone]
Aug. 29, 1-4 p.m.	Gateway FS, Waterloo	Jerry Roosevelt, [phone]
Aug. 30, 8-11 a.m.	Royster-Clark, New Baden	Jeff Haas, [phone]
Aug. 30, 1-4 p.m.	Bergmann-Taylor, St. Jacob	Patty Taylor, [phone]
Aug. 31, 8-11 a.m.	M & J Fertilizer, Pana	Steve Morrell, [phone]
Aug. 31, 1-4 p.m.	M & M Service, Girard	Zane Rutherford, [phone]