Sampson County farmers recently received a boost in recycling centers for properly rinsed pesticide containers. Cooperative Extension received grant money in excess of $7,000 from the Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund to install two additional pesticide container recycling sites. They are located at our county’s waste management convenience sites listed below. We provide shipping containers that are used to temporarily store the emptied containers until a contracted company out of Texas can remove them, chip them, and recycle them as industrial plastic products.

Sites that have been in use are the Giddensville Site (337 Goshen Church Road, Faison) and the Spivey’s Corner Site (1564 US 421N, Dunn). These two sites alone recycled over 14,000 pounds of emptied pesticide jugs just last year. Unfortunately, we still rank much lower than other counties, but with the addition of more recycling locations, we should have the capacity to double this number by the end of next year.

Key points to remember before carrying your containers to be recycled: all jugs must be thoroughly rinsed and have no chemicals caked in the container or around the spout, all booklets must be removed, all lids must be removed, and only farm chemical containers will be allowed, no household pesticide containers will be accepted.

The new sites are: Autryville Site (1404 Pumpkintown Road, Autryville) and Mt. Gilead Site (4270 US 421 S. Clinton). These sites would not have been possible without the assistance of the Site Attendees and their Foreman/Managers.

Remember that it is illegal in the State of North Carolina to burn pesticide containers and we encourage that you recycle your containers as apposed to adding them to the landfill. We have taken the time to apply for these grants and install these sites in an effort to make it more convenient to recycle your pesticide jugs. We do also plan to install more sites next year, assuming that we are approved for more funding.

Call Keith Kettner at the Cooperative Extension Office if you have any questions regarding this article. (910) 592-7161