Agrichemical Waste

Triple Rinse Advice

Plastic and metal containers used for crop protection and many animal health products should be properly rinsed as soon as the contents have been used. Only then are they suitable for re-use, recycling or burying in a landfill. With proper rinsing 99.99.percent of the original product is removed. 

Crop Protection Products and Concentrated Sheep Dips

Here's how: 

1. Remove the cap from the container. Empty the contents into the spray tank or dipwash and allow the container to drain for an extra 30 seconds after the flow reduces to drops. 
2. Fill the container with water to between 20 to 25 per cent of capacity. 
3. Replace the cap securely. Shake, rotate, roll or invert the container vigorously for at least 30 seconds, so that the rinse reaches all inside surfaces. 
4. Remove the cap. Add the rinsate from container into the spray tank or dip wash - drain for an extra 30 seconds after the flow reduces to drops. 
5. Repeat the above steps two times.
6. Check the container thread and outside of the container and if contaminated, rinse with a hose into the spray tank or dipwash. Rinse the cap separately in a bucket of water and pour this into the spray tank or dipwash. 
7. Let the container dry completely and replace the cap. 

Leave a hole! 

Puncture the container soon afterwards if it is not going to be reused or recycled. This shows that proper rinsing has been carried out. 

Drenches and Ready-to-Use Sheep Dips

1. Remove the cap from the container. Fill the container with water to between 20 to 25 per cent of capacity. 
2. Replace the cap securely. Shake, rotate, roll or invert the container vigorously for at least 30 seconds, so that the rinse reaches all inside surfaces. 
3. Remove the cap. Spread or spray the rinsate from container onto waste ground or pasture from which all livestock and domestic animals have been excluded. Because of the risk of groundwater and surface water contamination from discharging the wastewater direct to ground the following best practice  tips must be followed: 

• do not allow puddles to form
• do not discharge rinsate within 10 metres of a surface water body, bore, spring, tile drain, or storm water drain.  

Drain the containers for an extra 30 seconds after the flow reduces to drops.  

4. Repeat the above steps two times.
5. Check the container thread and outside of the container and if contaminated, rinse with a hose into a bucket; rinse the cap separately in a bucket of water. Dispose of the rinsate as for 3 above.  
6. Let the container dry completely and replace the cap. 

Leave a hole! 

Puncture the container soon afterwards if it is not going to be reused or recycled. This shows that proper rinsing has been carried out. 

Safe Storage of Agrichemicals and Agrichemical Wastes

Location  |  Construction  |  Containment  |  Signage  |  Packaging  |  Record Maintenance  | Labelling  |  Positioning of Chemicals  | Emergency Equipment  | Training  |

Read our factsheet:  Agrichemical Storage on Farms for important information about storing agricultural chemicals.

Location 

It is important that your chemical store is an area with good access and easy exit. The storage area should be sited away from: 

• drains
• watercourses
• wells and boreholes
• areas prone to flooding or low-lying land 
• areas that present a fire risk such as diesel storage areas, haybarns, wood stacks
• living and working areas

Construction 

Your chemical store should be 

• lockable
• preferably made of non-combustible materials and protected from direct light
• large enough to allow for the separation of incompatible chemicals
• fitted with shelves made of non-absorbent materials that are easily cleaned (e.g. steel shelves, or sheet metal or mesh)
• well ventilated 
• equipped with flameproof electrical equipment (or the electrical service removed as a cheaper alternative) if flammable materials are stored

Containment

To minimise the spread of any spills, your chemical store should include some form of spill containment such as bunding. A common from of bund is a concrete floor with a lip formed at the edges or with a wall of preformed blocks. 

For smaller chemical stores, bunding can be achieved by standing chemicals or the storage cabinet in a container such as an old water storage tank or a 250 litre drums cut in half. Before using any storage tank make sure that it is not contaminated and is leak proof. 

In addition to bunding there are other ways of containing leaks and spills and these can achieved with minimal expense and effort, such as: 

• small bottles of chemicals can be placed in plastic bags
• storing small container in cut down plastic or steel drums 
• a sheet metal tray with or without a liner.

Signage

Make sure that the store is clearly labelled with orange HAZCHEM 2WE Agrichemical signs. 

For suppliers of these signs look in the yellowpages  under safety equipment suppliers 

Packaging 

• If containers are sealed and in good condition, the chemicals inside pose little risk. Regularly check all containers so that any leaking or deteriorating containers are identified as soon as possible. 
• Leaking containers should be placed in an oversized container (ideally of the same material). Do not use soft drink bottles of containers usually used for storing food. 
• All containers should be fitted with lids to minimise the risk of spills 

Record Maintenance 

It is a good idea to keep a separate log book of all the chemicals and the information contained on the label (this includes the safety directions, first aid methods, warnings etc.) and link it to a unique identifying mark on each container. 

It is important that you identify the complete chemical name and other ingredients as this may effect the handling requirements of any future processing. If a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) is available, use the same system but copy the identifying mark to the MSDS sheet as well. 

Labelling

It is common for the labels on old chemical containers to deteriorate. It is important that all chemicals whether used or not are labeled with the correct contents as unlabeled/unknown chemicals are hard to manage. 

There are a number of ways that you can label containers. The important thing to remember is that is should be as permanent as possible. 

You can: 

• use a permanent marker or paint on the container; 
• make a metal tag ( from a drink can etc.) and write on it with a sharp metal object like a nail; or
• wire on a plastic tag and mark it with a felt pen. 

These identifying marks can then refer to detailed information held in your log book. 

Positioning of Chemicals

Where you place chemicals within the store can reduce the risk of spills and accidents. You should: 

• store chemicals on shelves rather than on the ground
• store powder above liquids
• store glass containers at low levels
• make sure that reactive chemicals are stored separately, for example keep fertilisers away from weed killers. Also do not store any oxidising or reducing agents such as pool chlorine with agrichemicals or fuels as they combust. Your chemical supplier should be able to provide you with information on chemical compatibility. 

Emergency Equipment

There should be easy access to emergency equipment. For a small store this should include: 

• a shovel
• a broom
• a fire extinguisher
• absorbent material such as clay, dry sand, sawdust, vermiculite, or commercial absorbent materials
• protective clothing such as boots, gloves, respirator and eye protection. 

Training 

Environment Canterbury recommends that all agrichemical users attain as a minimum the Growsafe Applied Certificate.

Further information on the use, storage and disposal of Agrichemicals can be obtained from Growsafe™  and "Agrichemical User's Code of Practice"  (New Zealand Standard 8409:1999)