Debate over US pesticide container recycling
Date:04-22-2008
US pesticide registrants will be required to recycle 20-40% of their one-way containers under new regulations that are due to be issued for comment later this year. The regulations will mandate registrants to recycle a certain proportion of their containers, but the exact figure is open to discussion, explained Bill Diamond, director of the US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs’ field and external affairs division. He was speaking at the CropLife America/Informa conference in Washington, DC, this month.
The rules will apply to all non-refillable, high-density polyethylene containers of 55 gallons (209 litres) or less that are used for agrochemicals and professional specialty pesticides. They will not apply to manufacturers of home and garden pesticides, antimicrobials or adjuvants. The annual cost of the scheme to registrants is not expected to exceed $10 million. The EPA estimates costs of $2.2-7.8 million for a 20% recycling rate, rising to $3.2-8.9 million for a 40% recycling rate. Compliance will be monitored through a third-party certification scheme.
The EPA started moves towards compulsory recycling in 2006 following concerns from CropLife America over the unfairness of the voluntary scheme being operated largely by its members. Earlier this year, the industry group welcomed moves to accelerate the rule-making process. Congress had asked the EPA to issue a final rule by June 2008. However, the rules are not likely to be finalised until late 2009. The Agency has submitted a proposed rule to the government’s Office of Management and Budget, with Federal Register publication targeted for the autumn. After a two-month comment period, the rule could then take another year to finalise, Mr Diamond pointed out.
The industry believes that the new rules will act as “a driving force” to bring equity into the funding of container collection and recycling, noted Steve Hutton of the Ag Container Recycling Council. He expects more plastic recycling to be carried out in a responsible manner as a result of the regulations. Industry representatives are yet to see the proposed rule, so Mr Hutton’s remarks were somewhat general. He expressed the hope that the regulations would encourage innovation such as the adoption of refillable containers. The scheme will be voluntary for users and retailers, so there is some concern that this might create “unforeseen issues” for registrants.
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