CropLife South Africa

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Container Management

Proper management of empty agricultural remedy containers is essential for environmental safety and regulatory compliance.

Extended Producer Responsibility

Container Management

In November 2020, the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries created and published a new Act in the government gazette, namely the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008 (Act No.59 of 2008) – Regulations Regarding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Following from the umbrella act, the "Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Paper, Packaging and Some Single Use Products" was also published.

The EPR for agricultural packaging was promulgated in 2023, (The 'Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for the Pesticide Sector', regulation No. 3177 of 23 April 2023) which means that each producer of this type of waste has a responsibility to ensure that there is a scheme in place for collecting and recycling such items. The Act is applicable to all stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, from supplier to farmer.

CropLife SA already has a well-structured empty container management system with collectors and recyclers that have been vetted and approved as reliable and ethical operators, which means the Association is already ahead of the curve in this regard. All CropLife SA approved service providers issue farmers with a Certificate of Adequate Disposal that export producers require for their Global.G.A.P. certification. More than 76% of empty containers are collected and recycled through the effective services of the 110+ CropLife SA approved collectors and recyclers.

To assist our members and their clients with complying, we have made a number of resources available. Please feel free to use these wherever applicable to ensure that all role-players are well informed of the requirements and are able to play their part in doing the right thing.

CropLife SA Container Management Programme

Strengthening Sustainability

Recycling Operations

Container Management Leaflet
CropLife SA Recycling Badge (It's the right thing to do)
Requirements for Collectors and Recyclers of Empty Plastic Pesticide Containers
List of CropLife SA Certified Container Recyclers and Collectors
Farmer's Guide to Container Management
Know your Plastic
Waste to Wonder

Triple Rinsing Method

Triple Rinsing

Triple rinse poster (bilingual English/Afrikaans)
Triple rinse poster (bilingual English/Zulu)
Triple rinse poster (bilingual English/Xhosa)
Triple rinse poster (bilingual English/Northern Sotho)
Triple rinse poster (bilingual English/Tshivenda)
Triple rinse brochure (bilingual English/Afrikaans)
Triple rinsing and disposal of empty plastic pesticide containers
How do you know that a triple-rinsed container is indeed 99.9% clean? (ECPA Report)

Container Management Resources

Guidelines for Cleaning, Disposal and Construction (Remove & Requirements)

Triple rinsing and disposal of empty plastic pesticide containers
Cleaning of spray tanks and disposal of rinse water
Empty paper and cardboard pesticide packaging
Empty foil pesticide packaging
Empty glass and aluminium pesticide containers
Disposal of obsolete pesticides
Triple Rinsing and Disposal of empty solid pesticide bags
General spill management and decontamination protocol
Guidelines for the Construction of an empty container cage
CropLife SA requirements to be certified as a recycler and standard operating procedures

Container Management Resources

Guidelines for Pest Control Operators

Cleaning and Disposal of Empty Paper and Cardboard Pesticide Packaging
Cleaning and Disposal of Empty Paper and Plastic Rodenticide Packs
Cleaning and Disposal of Empty Plastic Pesticide Rodenticide Tubs and Buckets
Decontamination and Disposal of Aluminum Pesticide Containers
Disposal of Empty Pesticide Aerosol Canisters
Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides and Contaminated Packaging
Disposal of Spent Aluminum and Magnesium Phosphide Mats, Plates and Strips
Disposal of Spent Ant and Roach Bait Syringes
Triple Rinsing and Disposal of Empty Glass Pesticide Containers
Triple Rinsing and Disposal of Empty Plastic Pesticide Containers

Container Management Resources

Guidelines for Home and Garden Use

CropLife SA Guidelines for the Triple Rinsing and Disposal of Empty Pesticide Glass Bottles
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Cleaning and Disposal of Empty Aluminium Blister Pesticide Packs
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Cleaning and Disposal of Empty Paper and Cardboard Pesticide Packaging
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Cleaning and Disposal of Empty Rodenticide Packaging
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Triple Rinsing and Disposal of Empty Plastic Pesticide Containers
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Disposal of Empty Pesticide Aerosol Spray Cans
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Disposal of Left Over Pesticides
CropLife SA Home Garden Guidelines for the Disposal of Spent Ant and Roach Bait Stations and Syringes

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