SWANA Encourages Pesticide Container Recyling Rule
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) sent a letter of support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), urging the immediate publishing of the proposed pesticide container recycling rule. SWANA holds that requiring pesticide manufacturers, dealers and registrants to recycle pesticide containers demonstrates the EPA's commitment to product stewardship and recycling, as well as easing the burden the containers place on municipal solid waste management programs.
"A mandatory recycling program would sustain and broaden the current voluntary stewardship activity that SWANA members have benefited greatly from," said John H. Skinner, Ph.D., Executive Director and CEO of SWANA."This rule is critical toprevent pesticide containers from finding their way to municipal recycling centers which can contaminate the waste stream of conventional recycling programs, in turn, reducing the market value of recovered materials."
Currently, the rigid, bulky plastic containers not recovered maybe found in illegal dump sites or may have been disposed of through waste management systems which consumes valuable landfill space. The U.S. EPA's leadership on the passing of the pesticide container recycling ruling would ensure the most responsible and efficient management of the containers.
About SWANA:
For over 40 years, SWANA, The Solid Waste Association of North America, has been the leading professional association in the solid waste management field. SWANA's mission is "to advance the practice of environmentally and economically sound management of municipal solid waste." SWANA serves over 7,500 members and thousands more industry professionals with technical conferences, certifications, publications and a large offering of technical training courses.