Rinsing Pesticide Containers

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Why Rinse?

Proper rinsing of pesticide containers is easy to do, saves money, and helps protect people and the environment. It also helps prevent potential problems with unrinsed containers, rinsate storage, and pesticide wastes. Even during a busy season the few extra minutes it takes to properly rinse empty pesticide containers is time well spent.

• Rinsate from the containers, when added directly into the sprayer tank, efficiently and economically uses all pesticide in the container. This eliminates the need to store and later dispose of the rinsate.
• Unless rinsed from the container immediately, some pesticides will solidify and become difficult to remove.
• Rinsing containers removes a potential source of pesticide exposure to people, animals, and wildlife.
• Proper rinsing is required by federal and state regulations and is a good, sound agricultural and environmental practice.

Rinsing Helps Protect the Environment

Proper rinsing of pesticide containers reduces a potential source of contamination of soil, surface, and ground water. When contamination occurs, plants and animals may be harmed and water supplies affected. Prevention of environmental contamination is always better than cleanup. Rinsing also helps in reducing the problem of handling pesticide wastes.

No matter how an empty pesticide container is disposed of, it must be properly rinsed. Both federal and state laws require rinsing. Landfill operators and recyclers can only accept properly rinsed containers. Pesticide containers should only be offered to recycling projects designed for pesticide containers and not general plastic and metal recycling programs. Pesticide container recycling project personnel will inspect containers to determine if they have been properly rinsed.

Rinsing is Effective

Pesticide residues measured in selected containers that passed visual inspection in the Minnesota Container Collection and Recycling project show rinsing at the time of use is effective:

Types of Pesticide Containers

Currently the most common agricultural pesticide container is a 2.5 gallon plastic jug. Agricultural, animal, household, and other pesticide products also come packaged in glass, paper, metal and aerosol cans. Many liquid agricultural pesticides are also sold in returnable bulk containers and mini-bulk containers. Only plastic, glass and unpressurized metal containers can be rinsed. Ease of handling and proper disposal should be considered when purchasing pesticides.

How to Properly Rinse

Two different procedures are effective for proper rinsing of pesticide containers: pressure-rinsing and triple-rinsing.

Pressure-Rinsing

A special nozzle is attached to the end of a hose to force the remaining pesticide from the container. Pressure-rinsing, which may be faster and easier than triple-rinsing, can be used with plastic and non-pressurized metal pesticide containers.

How to Pressure-Rinse

1. Remove cover from container. Check cover and container threads for pesticide. Rinse covers separately in a bucket of water for more than one minute and pour this rinse water into the spray tank.
2. Empty pesticide into the spray tank and let container drain for 30 seconds.
3. insert pressure-nozzle by puncturing through the lower side of the pesticide container.
4. Hold the container upside down over the sprayer tank opening so rinsate will run into the sprayer tank.
5. Rinse for length of time recommended by the manufacturer (generally 30 seconds or more). Wiggle nozzle to rinse all inside surfaces. Be sure hollow handles are well rinsed.
6. Let containers dry and then put cover back on container.

Triple-Rinsing

It means rinsing the container three times. Triple-rinsing can be used with plastic, non-pressurized metal, and glass containers.

How to Triple-Rinse

1. Remove cover from the container.
2. Empty the pesticide into the sprayer tank and let the container drain for 30 seconds.
3. Fill the container 10% to 20% full of water or rinse solution.
4. Secure the cover on the container.
5. Swirl the container to rinse all inside surfaces.
6. Remove cover from the container. Add the rinsate from the container to sprayer tank and let drain for 30 seconds or more.
7. Repeat steps 2 through 5 two more times.
8. Let containers dry and then put cover back on container.

Remember

• To read and to follow all label instructions.
• To wear appropriate protective gear when working with pesticides.
• Never to reuse a pesticide container for any purpose.
• To dispose of all pesticide containers properly.
• When not using a water nurse tank, always use a back-flow prevention device when filling sprayer tanks or rinsing pesticide containers.
• Mixing and loading sites should be at least 150 feet away from all wells.

Bibliography

Cochran, Dale. Program for the Handling and Disposal of Used Pesticide Containers. Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, 1988.

Code of Federal Regulations 40 Parts 190 to 399. Revised July 1, 1984.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Agronomy Services Division, Pesticide Container Collection and Recycling Project Report , December 1991.

Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Agronomy Services Division. Minnesota Empty Pesticide Container Disposal Report. March 1988.

Minnesota Documents Division. Department of Agriculture Pesticide Law Chapter 18B. Extracted from the 1989 Minnesota Statutes, 1989.

Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. Private Pesticide Applicator's Training Manual . 1992.

Dean Herzfeld is assistant extension agriculturist, Pesticide Applicator Training Program; Thomas R. Halbach is assistant extension specialist, Water Quality and Waste Management, both with the Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. Rick Hansen is supervisor, Information and Certification Unit; and Larry Palmer is Supervisor, Waste Pesticide/Container Disposal Unit; both with the Agronomy Services Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of Minnesota Extension.

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