Agrecovery comes to Canterbury for agrichemical collection
The Agrecovery Chemicals programme will be holding its second collection of unwanted and expired agrichemicals in the Canterbury region shortly. The first collection held in February 2011 resulted in the largest single Agrecovery agrichemical collection to date, with 2060 kg of chemicals picked up from properties in Canterbury.
The Agrecovery collection complements local household hazardous substances collection programmes, which are designed to remove small quantities of mainly domestic chemicals from homes in the region.
In contrast, the Agrecovery Chemicals programme, launched in July 2009, is available for all primary sector users of horticultural and agrichemicals, including farmers, growers, contractors, veterinary clinics, golf courses and others. It is easy to use, safe and fully compliant. The programme offers a fully auditable record of disposal which farmers and growers can use for NZGAP and other quality assurance programmes.
Anyone wanting to dispose of unwanted agrichemicals needs to book with Agrecovery prior to the collection event. In the case of the upcoming Canterbury collection, the booking deadline is Friday, 13th January 2012.
Following the booking, Agrecovery assesses which chemicals can be disposed of for free and which are eligible for subsidies for the cost of collection and disposal. For this upcoming collection Environment Canterbury will be providing partial subsidies for some chemicals.
The programme is also part funded by contributions from the companies that support Agrecovery, and local and central government. Agrichemicals belonging to the 55 brand owners who support the Agrecovery Container and Chemicals programmes are usually eligible for free disposal, though some conditions apply.
The booking process is easy and can be done online at Agrecovery where a simple search function allows users to select the agrichemicals they wish to dispose of. Otherwise they can ring Agrecovery for a booking form on freephone 0800 247 326. Specialised, highly experienced hazardous substance contractors will safely handle, store and dispose of the agrichemicals received through approved channels.
Agrecovery provides the primary sector with sustainable alternatives to the burning and dumping of plastic waste and the disposal of unwanted chemicals in the primary sector.
Developed by industry for industry, Agrecovery is fully supported by most of New Zealand’s leading agrichemical, animal health, silage wrap and crop protection net companies. It is safe, reliable and fully compliant with accreditation to Environmental Standard ISO 14001. The Chemicals programme complements the nationwide agrichemical container, drum, silage wrap and crop protection net recycling programmes also run by Agrecovery. Agrecovery’s chemical and container programmes are accredited by the Minister for the Environment as Product Stewardship Programmes under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
Those with unwanted household or garden chemicals are advised to contact their local council as these chemicals are not subsidised under the Agrecovery Chemicals programme.
Booking your chemicals for disposal is simple!
Step 1: Take an inventory – make a note of any unwanted or expired chemicals on your property (download our inventory form).
Step 2: Book disposal – book disposal online or contact Agrecovery on freephone 0800 247 326.
Step 3: Confirmation – Agrecovery will confirm your booking and keep you informed of collection event details.
Bookings are required by 13 January 2012
If sufficient bookings are not received, Agrecovery reserves the right to cancel or postpone the collection. So book your chemicals now!
Further information is available at Agrecovery or on freephone 0800 247 326.
Don’t miss out – book your unwanted or expired agrichemicals for disposal today!
Agrecovery Rural Recycling Programme
The Agrecovery Rural Recycling Programme provides New Zealand’s primary sector with responsible and sustainable systems for the recovery and recycling of persistent “on-farm” waste products.
Established in 2005, Agrecovery is a not-for-profit charitable trust put together by primary sector stakeholders. Its nationwide services are available for farmers, growers, contractors, sports turf managers, vet clinics and others within the New Zealand primary sector.
The aim of the programme is to provide a sustainable solution to help manage the sector’s impact on the environment and to meet increasing customer demands for best environmental practice.
For detailed information about how Agrecovery can help you deal with persistent waste on your farm or property, please visit www.agrecovery.co.nz
For household or garden chemicals, please contact your local council as these are not subsidised under the Agrecovery Chemicals programme.
Banned and illegal agrichemicals
The importation, manufacture and use of agricultural chemicals is now regulated under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996. Substances that have not been transferred to HSNO as of 1 July 2006 cannot legally be used in New Zealand unless a new HSNO approval is obtained and the agrichemical remains registered under the Agricultural Chemicals and Veterinary Medicines Act.
In 2003, in accordance with the Stockholm Convention, the HSNO Act was amended to ban the import, manufacture and use of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in New Zealand. POPs include:
- Aldrin
- Chlordane
- DDT
- Dieldrin ndrin Heptachlor
- HCB (Hexachloro – Benzene)
- Mirex oxaphene (Camphechlor)
Other agrichemicals that are illegal to use are:
- 2,4,5-T
- BHC (Benzene Hexachloride)
- Captafol
- Nicotine Sulphate
- Strychnine
- Sulfallate
If you come across agrichemicals that are either “banned” or “illegal to use”, these should be stored until they can be disposed of appropriately. For more information, refer to the ERMA information pamphlet “Do you have banned pesticides on your farm?” available at www.ermanz.govt.nz.
Endosulfan use prohibited - safe disposal required
From 16 January 2009, it will no longer be legal to import, manufacture, or use Endosulfan and formulations containing Endosulfan in New Zealand. The prohibition is the outcome of a formal reassessment of the chemical by The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA), as empowered under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
All unused and partially-used stock of Endosulfan must be disposed of by 17 January 2010 (within 12 months of the Authority’s reassessment decision taking effect on 16 January 2009).
What is Endosulfan?
Endosulfan is a chemical used as an insecticide on crops and turf, in formulations. The following products containing Endosulfan have been sold in New Zealand for commercial use (it is not sold for domestic use):
- ENDO 350EC
- Thiodan
- Thionex Insecticide
- Flavylan 350EC
Safe disposal required
From 16 January 2009, people holding stock of Endosulfan will have to dispose of it safely and legally within 12 months - it will be illegal to use it or dump it. Contact the manufacturer/importer of the chemical - you have to see if they are taking it back and disposing of it on their customer’s behalf.
Disposal options
Don’t make old agrichemicals the next generation's problem by shoving them to the back of the shed or in the farm pit – there are many easy safe ways to dispose of these hazardous substances.
You can participate in an Agrecovery, agrichemical collection, this service is free for some chemicals – see the Agrecovery website for details.
For information about the reassessment / banning of Endosulfan, please contact ERMA New Zealand on 0800 376 234 or see www.ermanz.govt.nz/news-events/focus/endosulfan/
The following list was supplied by ERMA New Zealand; contractors that only serve the North Island are not shown. When using a commercial contractor, you should ask for proof of legal disposal.