Environmentally fiscal producers make a conscience effort to protect our valuable resources when they recycle pesticide containers.  Thanks to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA) Rinse and Return Program, the vast sinkhole and cave riddled topography of Caldwell County no longer contain a stockpile of discarded pesticide jugs.  KDA has helped coordinate container collection days and contracted recycling services to counties across the state for over 25 years.  

The Caldwell County Extension Service, Caldwell County Solid Waste Advisory Council, and Agri-Chem of Princeton have partnered to have two and in more recent years one Pesticide Jug collection day for farmers to bring in rinsed pesticide jugs for recycling.  This is a wonderful opportunity for smaller producers to contribute to good environmental stewardship.  However, this has been a burden on larger producers who have multiple semi-trailer loads of pesticide containers on the one- or two-day collection days. Last season, KDA and the Caldwell County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources began coordinating on farm pick-up for large farms periodically throughout the season. Farmers let us know when on-farm storage facilities are beginning to overflow, and we come load them direct from the on farm and deliver to the recycle facility.  

This new approach to coordinating on farm pick-up has allowed for increased communication, provided education opportunities, and helped remove a burden from producers.  A collection day is still held in August for smaller producers, which without the huge volume of containers allows more interaction and education opportunities with smaller producers.  The change in tactics has provided a 40% increase in jug recycling in Caldwell County.