Tips for Pesticide Container Disposal

Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted from Techletter with permission of Pinto & Associates, Inc.

The trend from pesticide manufacturers is towards containers that don't have to be cleaned by the applicator. Water-soluble packets, closed systems, and returnable containers all eliminate the need for rinsing and disposing of pesticide containers. In the meantime, however, you still need to know how to properly triple-rinse a pesticide container.

According to federal regulations, a properly triple-rinsed pesticide container can be disposed in a landfill that handles regular household waste. Some rinsed containers can even be recycled. However, a pesticide container that is not properly rinsed is classified as hazardous waste and cannot be disposed of in a landfill. Some states have their own guidelines or may designate a special disposal site for pesticide containers. Know your company's container disposal policy and always first check the Storage and Disposal section on the pesticide label for any special instructions.

Triple-rinsing accomplishes two things at once. It converts a pesticide container from hazardous waste requiring special handling to solid waste that can be safely disposed of. At the same time, it assures that you get your money's worth out of the product since you are reusing even the rinse water in your application equipment.

How to Triple-Rinse an Empty Pesticide Container

1. Triple-rinse containers as soon as possible after they are emptied. It's much more difficult to effectively triple-rinse a container that contains dried residue. If you can't clean the container right away, leave the cap on to keep the residue from drying out.
2. Wear, at a minimum, the same personal protective equipment that the label requires you to wear while mixing the product.
3. Pour any pesticide remaining in the container into your sprayer and then let the container drain into the sprayer for 30 to 60 seconds.
4. Add clean water to the container unless some other liquid is specified on the label.
Add an amount of water equal to 10 to 25% of the container's volume. In other words, fill it less than 1/4 full. Replace the cap.
5. Shake or roll the container so that all inside surfaces are rinsed.
6. Pour the rinsate into your sprayer and again let the container drain for 30 seconds.
This completes the first rinse.
7. Repeat steps (4) through (6) two more times. If, after you've rinsed three times, the rinsate still looks milky or cloudy, keep rinsing until the water looks clear.
8. When you're done, puncture or crush any metal or plastic containers so that they can't be reused.
9. Dispose of the container in a sanitary landfill, or follow your state's requirements for recycling or disposal.
10. Use the rinse water in your sprayer on a site and in a manner specified by the product's label.

Remember, triple-rinsing does not apply to aerosol spray cans or pesticides packaged in bags. These products require other disposal techniques.