Waste Reduction for the Pesticide Formulating Industry

Background

Pesticide formulation involves mixing highly concentrated active chemicals with various diluents and additives to produce convenient, easy-to-use pesticides packaged for the end-user. Product formulations included in this fact sheet are agricultural, industrial, and household pesticide formulations, including insecticides, herbicides, and rodenticides.

There are three types of pesticide formulations: Solvent-based, water-based, and solid. Carrier solvents in solvent-based formulations are Xylene, I.I.I-Trichloroethane, and mineral spirits. Frequently used carrier solids in solid formulations are clays and sands. The common hazardous wastes generated by pesticide-formulation include:

Waste Reduction

Waste reduction decreases the amount of hazardous wastes generated at your facility. Waste reduction benefits you by reducing or eliminating:

In some instances, it may require some initial capital investment to introduce and implement waste reduction practices. However, these "upfront costs" can be quickly recovered in the short term, in most cases, when hazardous waste management and liability costs are reduced. Waste reduction also helps improve corporate image in the community.

The New Jersey state regulations require that generators of hazardous waste file an Annual Generator's Report (N.J.A.C. 7:26- 7.4(g)). Among other requirements, this report must include a description of the efforts undertaken, and achievements accomplished, during the reporting period to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste generated.

The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest requires fully regulated generators to certify that they "have a program in place to reduce the volume and toxicity of waste generated... determined to be economically practicable" and that they have selected the "practicable method of treatment, storage, or disposal currently available... which minimizes the present and future threat to human health and the environment".

Beginning Your Waste Reduction Program

The first requirement for a successful waste reduction program is management commitment and support. The plant owner or manager must be committed to reducing waste and must pass that commitment on to the employees. Every employee must be charged with the responsibility to identify and carry out waste reduction goals.

Establish training programs for waste reduction along with hazardous material handling and emergency response.

Establish incentive programs to encourage the design and use of new waste reduction ideas.

Assessing Your Waste Reduction Opportunities

Waste assessments are essential in identifying the sources, types and amounts of hazardous waste generated in order to assess waste reduction opportunities. Information gathered during the assessment process should answer the following questions:

These and other related questions can help you determine where to focus your waste reduction efforts.

Improve Shop Procedures

Modify Processes

Reduce the volume of waste and solvent used in equipment decontamination and floor washing by using any of the equipment or methods listed below:

Recycling and Resource Recovery

Treatment

Treatment of pesticide-contaminated wastewater can allow reuse of the wastewater in formulating and other associated operations, particularly when high purity water is not required. Frequently used treatment technologies include:

Additional Publications

Some additional publications that may be helpful in the overall management of hazardous waste are available from the Hazardous Waste Advisement Program.

Hazardous Waste Information Series:

Newsletters:

Technical Information Publications (TIP):

Waste Minimization Publications:

Other Publications:

Regulations:

Water Resources Publications:

Further Information

For information about regulatory requirements contact the Hazardous Waste Advisement Program at (609) 292-8341 or write to:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Hazardous Waste Management
401 East Street, CN028, 5th Floor
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Attn: Hazardous Waste Advisement Program


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Last Updated: October 31, 1995