13.5 Container Rinsing & Waste Disposal

Container Rinsing & Waste Disposal

Why this matters: Domain 8 closes with disposal of unwanted product and disposal of containers. Both come down to the same principle: the cheapest, safest and most legal destination for pesticide and rinsate is a labelled site at a labelled rate.

1. Container Decontamination: Immediate Rinsing Mechanics & Rinsate Utilization

The fundamental operational rule of container management is: Rinse containers immediately upon emptying while chemical residues are still wet and liquid.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   THE IMMEDIATE RINSING MANDATE                        │
│                                                                        │
│  • WHY IMMEDIATE RINSING IS CRITICAL:                                  │
│    When pesticide concentrates (especially suspension concentrates,    │
│    wettable powders, flowables, and oily emulsifiable concentrates)    │
│    are allowed to dry inside an empty container, the chemical actives  │
│    and polymers cross-link and bake into an insoluble, hardened cake.  │
│    Once dry, even extensive rinsing fails to remove residual poison.   │
│                                                                        │
│  • IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC & OPERATIONAL BENEFIT:                           │
│    Rinsing immediately allows the handler to pour all rinsate liquid   │
│    directly into the active spray tank as part of the measured batch,  │
│    utilizing 100% of the purchased chemical and preventing excess waste│
│                                                                        │
│  • LEGAL CLASSIFICATION IMPACT:                                        │
│    - Unrinsed Empty Container = HAZARDOUS WASTE under RCRA.            │
│    - Triple-Rinsed / Pressure-Rinsed Container = NON-HAZARDOUS SOLID   │
│      WASTE (eligible for municipal sanitary landfill or ACRC recycling)│
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

2. Step-by-Step Triple-Rinsing vs. Pressure-Rinsing Protocols

Applicators must master the two federally approved container decontamination methodologies for rigid containers (plastic jugs, metal drums, glass bottles).

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    TRIPLE-RINSING PROTOCOL (40 CFR § 261.7)            │
│                                                                        │
│  STEP 1: DRAIN                                                         │
│  Empty the container completely into the spray tank. Allow container   │
│  to drip vertically into the tank opening for at least 30 SECONDS.     │
│                                                                        │
│  STEP 2: FILL                                                          │
│  Fill the container 1/4 to 1/5 full of clean water (or approved carrier│
│                                                                        │
│  STEP 3: SEAL & AGITATE                                                │
│  Replace the cap securely. Vigorously shake, rotate, and invert the    │
│  container for at least 30 SECONDS so the rinsate washes all interior  │
│  surfaces (sides, bottom, shoulder, and cap threads).                  │
│                                                                        │
│  STEP 4: DRAIN INTO SPRAY TANK                                         │
│  Remove cap and pour rinsate directly into the spray tank. Allow to    │
│  drip vertically for at least 30 SECONDS.                              │
│                                                                        │
│  STEP 5: REPEAT TWO MORE TIMES                                         │
│  Execute Steps 2 through 4 for a TOTAL OF THREE COMPLETE RINSE CYCLES. │
│                                                                        │
│  STEP 6: PUNCTURE & DE-CAP                                             │
│  Puncture the bottom or side of the plastic container using a utility  │
│  knife or punch to render it unusable; remove and discard the cap.     │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      PRESSURE-RINSING PROTOCOL                         │
│                                                                        │
│  • EQUIPMENT: Specialized sharp probe nozzle connected to a pressurized│
│    clean water supply operating at 40 TO 60 PSI.                       │
│                                                                        │
│  • STEP 1: Drain the container into the spray tank for 30 seconds.     │
│  • STEP 2: Hold the container upside down directly over the spray tank │
│    fill opening.                                                       │
│  • STEP 3: Push the sharp pressure-rinse probe firmly through the side │
│    or bottom of the plastic container into the interior cavity.        │
│  • STEP 4: Turn on water pressure (40–60 PSI) and rotate the nozzle    │
│    in a full 360-degree arc for at least 30 TO 60 SECONDS, allowing    │
│    rinsate to drain continuously out the open neck into the spray tank.│
│  • STEP 5: Turn off water, let drain for 30 seconds.                   │
│                                                                        │
│  • ADVANTAGES OF PRESSURE-RINSING:                                     │
│    - Up to 3 times faster than manual triple-rinsing.                  │
│    - Achieves equal or superior residue removal (> 99.999% purged).    │
│    - Automatically punctures the container, completing two jobs in one│
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Decontaminating Non-Rigid Packaging (Bags, Liners & Bulk Totes)

• Paper & Plastic Multi-Wall Bags (Dry Formulations): Empty the bag completely into the hopper or application tank. Gently shake and tap the bottom and sides to dislodge all clinging dust and granules. Slit the bag completely open along all four seams, flatten it, and inspect the interior. Flattened dry bags cannot be rinsed and must be disposed of in a sanitary landfill.
• Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC / Mini-Bulk Totes): Mini-bulk totes (120 to 330 gallons) are owned by chemical dealers/distributors and are sealed with tamper-evident caps. Applicators must not rinse or alter mini-bulk totes unless directed by the dealer; totes are returned directly to the dealer for closed-system refilling.

3. Container Recycling, Disposal Programs & Hazardous Waste Regulations

Once a rigid plastic container is thoroughly rinsed and punctured, it is no longer subject to hazardous waste restrictions and can be recycled or discarded through approved channels.

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                   ACRC PLASTIC CONTAINER RECYCLING                     │
│                                                                        │
│  The Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC) is an industry-funded,      │
│  free recycling program for agricultural and commercial plastic jugs:   │
│                                                                        │
│  1. ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS: Clean, dry, high-density polyethylene (HDPE  │
│     #2 plastic) containers up to 55-gallon capacity.                   │
│                                                                        │
│  2. PREPARATION SPECIFICATIONS:                                        │
│     • Must be verified 100% triple-rinsed or pressure-rinsed.          │
│     • Caps and foil heat-induction seals must be removed and discarded│
│     • Exterior paper label booklets and plastic sleeves removed        │
│       (glued base labels may remain).                                  │
│     • Must be thoroughly dry inside; containers containing liquid      │
│       sludge or rainwater will be rejected.                            │
│                                                                        │
│  3. RECYCLED END-USE PRODUCTS:                                         │
│     ACRC plastic is processed into industrial commodities: corrugated  │
│     agricultural drain pipe, highway guardrail posts, signposts,       │
│     industrial pallets, and composite marine lumber. It is strictly    │
│     PROHIBITED from being recycled into consumer products, food        │
│     packaging, or children's toys.                                     │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Strict Oregon State Prohibitions: Burning and Burying

• Open Burning Ban (OAR 340-264): In the state of Oregon, open burning of pesticide containers, bags, packaging, or plastic liners is strictly illegal. Burning plastic containers releases acutely toxic, halogenated hydrocarbons, dioxins, furans, and hazardous particulate smoke that cause severe respiratory trauma and groundwater contamination. Violations trigger massive DEQ civil penalties.
• On-Farm Burying Ban: Burying pesticide containers or chemical wastes on private farmland, forestlands, or rights-of-way is strictly prohibited under Oregon solid waste law (ORS Chapter 459).

The Oregon CleanSweep Program (ODA & DEQ Partnership)

Agricultural producers, commercial applicators, and landowners often inherit obsolete, banned, cancelled, damaged, or unidentifiable pesticide stocks (e.g., legacy supplies of DDT, chlordane, toxaphene, dinoseb, lead arsenate, or unlabeled leaking barrels).

• Safe, Legal Disposal Pathway: The Oregon CleanSweep Program, co-sponsored by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), conducts regional collection events across Oregon.
• Legal Protection & Confidentiality: CleanSweep provides a confidential, non-regulatory, free or heavily subsidized pathway for applicators to dispose of unusable or banned pesticides safely without fear of enforcement citations for possessing obsolete products.

RCRA Hazardous Waste Classifications (40 CFR Parts 260–261)

Unrinsed pesticide wastes, spill cleanups, and cancelled concentrates are regulated under federal RCRA:

• P-Listed Waste (Acutely Hazardous): Chemical commercial products that are acutely toxic (e.g., aluminum phosphide, aldicarb, dimethoate, nicotine, parathion). Empty containers that held P-listed chemicals must be triple-rinsed; if not rinsed, the entire container and all rinsate are classified as acutely hazardous waste.
• U-Listed Waste (Toxic): Commercial chemical products identified for chronic or systemic toxicity (e.g., 2,4-D, creosote, lindane).
• Characteristic Waste: Wastes exhibiting:
  • D001 (Ignitability): Flash point $< 140^\circ ext{F}$ ($60^\circ ext{C}$).
  • D002 (Corrosivity): $ ext{pH} \le 2$ or $ ext{pH} \ge 12.5$.
  • D003 (Reactivity): Unstable, reacts violently with water, or emits toxic gases.
  • D004–D043 (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure - TCLP): Leaches heavy metals or toxic organic chemicals above regulatory thresholds.