Virginia Agency Reports Success of Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board have reported that 45,115 containers have been collected through its 2009 Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program. The program operated at 28 sites, including 17 localities and twelve licensed dealers and commercial applicators. 

Since its inception, the Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program has collected a total of 976,000 containers, more than million fifty thousand pounds of plastic granulated and remanufactured into new products. Granulated chips are transported to recycling facilities and fabricated into items such as pallets, fence posts, field drain tiles and parking stops, keeping the containers out of landfills.

VDACS provides up to $1,875 in reimbursement costs to each participating locality to offset the cost of the program. The program is available statewide each year. The Web address for the program that has additional information including contact information for staff is http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticides/recycling.shtml.