Rinse and Return

Environmentally responsible crop and livestock production includes properly disposing of the used chemical containers.  The carst landscape that is Barren County only intensifies the need for proper container disposal.  The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) offers a “rinse and return” program for counties to participate in.  KDA provides a pathway in which the empty chemical jugs can be recycled.  The Barren County Agriculture Extension has partnered with KDA for the past 5 years to provide at least one “Rinse and Return” day annually.  Extension and KDA also cooperative with the Barren County Fiscal Court, Barren County Road Department, and C&F Supply to make this program possible.  On pre-determined and advertised dates, producers are encouraged to bring in empty chemical jugs that have been triple rinsed.  Drop off locations are the Barren County Road Department barn and C&F Supply.  The Barren County Agriculture Extension Agent assisted the KDA personal in unloading the jugs during the drop off time.  Sometimes a producer may just bring in one or two jugs, and on other occasions, entire cattle trailers of jugs are brought in.  Regardless of the amount, each jug that is brought in for recycling is one that does not end up in the landfill or sink hole. In order to promote this concept of rinse and return, the Barren Co Agriculture Extension agent discussed this program as part of his private pesticide applicator training courses.