The legal disposal of empty agrochemical cans in this country was a problem for long enough. The eventual acknowledgement that properly triple-rinsed cans were safe for recycling was a very important breakthrough. This meant that they could be delivered to recycling centres and used as raw materials for future manufacture.

Before rinsed containers were accepted as non-hazardous waste, it was very difficult to get an acceptable method of disposal to comply with the various assurance schemes. So when the triple-rinse process was awarded non-hazardous status, tillage farmers in particular welcomed the development. Empty washed containers could then be taken to recycling centres to provide an official disposal route.

The non-hazardous classification was awarded by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) following research by people in the Department of Agriculture. The rinsing and testing of washings from empty containers, and the triple-rinsed cans, provided the background information to justify the non-hazardous categorisation.

Since this happened, containers delivered to recycling centres have been crosschecked by the Department and the EPA. Initial checks showed that the recycled cans were up to 99% compliant but it seems that this compliance has deteriorated.

Recent crosschecks have found empty agchem cans in recycling centres that were not adequately rinsed and some that were not rinsed at all. This shabby activity now threatens the non-hazardous classification.

Farmers are being warned that this non-hazardous recycling option will be withdrawn if the strict rinsing procedures are not adhered to on all cans.

Whether you yourself are spraying or if you are using a contractor, it is essential that every half gram of active is recovered from the cans for use on the crop.