Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program?
Through grant monies administered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture from the 1993 Environmental Trust Fund, Chatham County has purchased a used trailer which is parked at the Chatham County Landfill in which to store properly cleaned plastic pesticide containers so that they can be granulated for recycling.

What will it cost to participate in the Recycling Program?
Nothing! The trailer was purchased through the grant money received from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. The company who granulates the plastic containers will sell the granulated containers for their profit and will not charge the county anything. The only cost to you is your effort in cleaning and bringing the containers to the landfill for storage.

Why should I participate in the Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Program?
It is becoming more and more difficult to dispose of pesticide containers. Many of our landfills are filling up fast. Due to instances where containers are not properly cleaned, pesticides remain in containers, that when placed in a landfill, contaminate groundwater. If pesticide containers are found dumped on your property, the property can not be sold until the containers have been cleaned up and any contaminated soil removed. This has tied up many estates in the past.

What happens to the containers once they have been deposited at the landfill?
Once a year a company will come to the landfill and will granulate the stored containers. The company which does the granulation will then sell the granulated plastic to companies which will use the plastic to make new items such as plastic fence posts, park benches and other items now being made from plastics.

What size containers can be recycled?
Only those containers one gallon and larger in size can be recycled through this process. Smaller containers will not go through the grinder. Smaller containers should be thoroughly rinsed and discarded with other garbage.

How do I participate?
Follow the guidelines listed below and bring your plastic pesticide containers to the Chatham County Waste Management facilities at the old County landfill during its normal operating hours (Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Please visit the administrative office at the Landfill to have your containers checked.

Instructions for recycling plastic pesticide containers:

1. CONTAINERS MUST BE CLEANED.
   Free of dirt, visible pesticide residue and labels removed.
   
2. CONTAINERS HAVE BEEN PRESSURE RINSED OR TRIPLE RINSED.
   If containers are triple rinsed, they must have a hole punched in the bottom of each container.
   
3. CONTAINERS HAVE NOT BEEN CRUSHED.
   Containers should not be crushed as they will grind better if still in the original shape.
   
4. ALL CAPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
   Caps of containers cannot go through the grinder and must be removed before storage.