Rinse "empty" containers with water or the spray solvent three times according to the "Triple Rinse and Drain" procedure. Add the rinse to the spray mixture and apply to the target area.

All triple rinsed containers may be crushed and buried in a sanitary landfill. If it is not possible to rinse containers, it may be possible to return them to your supplier or formulator or take them to an approved landfill operating under EPA or state permit for pesticide disposal.

Empty pesticide bags and cartons can be burned unless the law prohibits such, but you must keep away from the toxic smoke. Some herbicide containers should not be burned. Check with the local and state regulations and authorities before indulging in open burning.

Break, crush, or otherwise destroy glass, plastic, and metal containers and bury them in an isolated place or approved sanitary landfill. If properly rinsed, some containers can be buried at the site of pesticide application. Large metal containers may be reclaimed and/or recycled where such facilities are available. Never re-use any "empty" container for any other purpose than its original intent.

The safe and convenient disposal of unwanted or surplus pesticides is not a simple matter. When possible, it is much better to prevent the problem by purchasing only the amounts that will be needed. The preferred method of disposing of a surplus pesticide is to apply the material for some alternative, registered use. Consult the label for authorized uses. If such action is not possible, check with the supplier to see if he will take back the surplus material. You should also contact the landfills operating under EPA or state permit for pesticide disposal. Some areas may have adequate incineration facilities, approved landfills or other approved means of disposing of unused pesticide wastes, but most solid waste landfills are not suitable and will not accept pesticide wastes. However, a triple rinsed pesticide container is considered as solid waste and will generally be accepted as such at a landfill. Diluted surplus pesticides and spray tank solutions can be disposed of by spraying over an isolated area or location, if available. Great care must be taken not to contaminate food, surface and ground water, streams, animals, wildlife, etc. If you cannot dispose of such materials right away, safely store them until you can dispose of them properly.

Pesticide applicators and handlers who generate wastes of certain pesticide chemicals may be regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) relative to the disposal of hazardous wastes. Chemicals listed by EPA as acutely hazardous or toxic waste must be handled according to the regulations. Pesticides registered in Ohio that are included on the acute hazardous waste and toxic waste lists are shown in Tables 5 and 6, respectively. Waste can include tank mixes that are not to be used, rinsate, unrinsed containers, old products, unused baits, spills and contaminated materials. To avoid the additional requirements on disposal, an applicator must not generate or accumulate any of the following:

• more than 1 kg (2.2 lbs) per month of acutely hazardous waste (Table 5)
• more than 100 kg (220 lbs) of residue, contaminated soil, water or debris from cleanup of a spill of an acute hazardous waste (Table 5)
• more than 1,000 kg (2,200 lbs) per month of toxic waste (Table 6)

A farmer disposing of hazardous waste pesticides from his own use is exempt from these regulations provided that:

1. All emptied pesticide containers or inner liners are triple rinsed or the equivalent. with an appropriate solvent before disposal of the containers.
2. Any other pesticide residue, waste, unused rinsate, contaminated material, etc. is disposed of on the farmer's own property in a manner consistent with disposal instructions on the pesticide label.