1. Pesticide Technology to Reduce Risk (Liability)
Mike Weaver, Coordinator
Pesticide Programs
Department of Entomology
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
July, 2002

2. Factors That Increase Risk
Toxicity
chemicals
physical conditions
human health factors
Exposure (handler)
mixing/loading
application
cleanup
storage/transport
disposal
Exposure (workers/public)
entering treated areas
movement off site
transport
mix/load/storage sites
disposal
spills
exposure to treated crops

3. Areas Where Growers Can Reduce Their Risks
Toxicity
less toxic pesticides
non-chemical alternatives
rate, dilution, formulation
Exposure (handler)
use PPE
use of advanced packaging systems
implement advanced handling systems
Exposure (workers/public)
control access
control runoff/leaching/drift
change transportation factors
mix/load/storage sites BMP’s
minimize waste
be prepared to handle spills
avoid harvesting

4. Today’s Topics Disposal and waste minimization
Advanced handling technology
systems to reduce exposure, drift, waste
Discussion of registered products based on:
toxicity
reduced risk formulations and packaging
alternatives
Choosing personal protective equipment (PPE)

5. Disposal Basics Avoid excess stored inventories
Minimize excess pesticides and rinsates
Avoid the need to dispose of pesticide containers as wastes

6. Disposal Methods Storage Reuse Remediation Recycling Burial
Incineration

7. Excess Pesticides Buy only what you need for one season
Calculate dilutions carefully
Use all mixed pesticide as labeled
Apply excess mix as labeled on site
can’t exceed rate and frequency
comply with application directions
Return or give away excess products
Add rinsates to tank

8. Pesticide Wastes
Excess pesticides and rinsates must be disposed of as wastes
Sanitary landfills will take rinsed containers only
Store wastes
under RCRA guidelines
small hazardous waste generator
2.2lbs. (acute) / 2,300 lbs/month
farmer exemptions
Have wastes hauled
commercial haulers

9. Containers Use refillable or returnable containers
Recycle or recondition containers
Use soluble packaging

10. Container Design Redesigned to reduce spills and enhance handling
no-”glug” openings
reduced weight
impact resistant
measure and pour spouts
closed systems
elimination of traditional containers

11. Container Contents Low rate technology Reduced risk pesticides
ounces/acre
smaller containers
Reduced risk pesticides
lower toxicity
more flexible handling
reduce number of containers
may eliminate some products as hazardous waste

12. Returnable/Refillable Paks
Mini-bulks and small volume returnables
ag. and specialty
gallon
Novartis
FarmPak/TurfPak
Aqumix
15 gallon
dilute or concentrate
closed systems
rights-of-way industry

13. Recyclable and Reconditionable Containers
Must be properly rinsed
metal
plastic
chipped and recycled
Drums
30 and 55 gallon
return to dealer
reconditioning
reuse

14. Soluble Containers Vinyl-alcohol water soluble films
Water soluble “paks”
Gel paks
Effervescent tablets
Biodegradable containers
Bag-in-bag
Impregnated fabrics and plastics

15. Water Soluble Paks Reduced packaging Water soluble pouch
paper outer shell
non-hazardous waste
Water soluble pouch
polyvinyl alcohol
Dry formulations
water dispersible granules (WDG)
wettable or soluble powders (WP or SP)

16. Gel Paks Reduced packaging Liquid formulation water soluble pouch
supports mixtures
non-hazardous waste
Liquid formulation
gel
sensitive to impact
water soluble
self-sealing

17. Effervescent Tablets Scored tablets Dissolve in mix water
cut dosages
Dissolve in mix water
Prescribed amounts
no mixing and loading of concentrates

18. Impregnated Fabrics/Plastics
Contained in pockets on plastic or synthetic landscape fabric
Used as mulches to inhibit weed growth
Slow release from pockets

19. Handling Rinsates and Reducing Wastes
Triple rinsing ( )
Probes and Jets
jet rinsers
siphon/rinse probes
tank rinsers
container rinsers
Closed systems
Injection systems
Portable sumps

20. Jet Rinsers Accepted alternative to triple rinsing Inexpensive
Very efficient
speeds up rinsing
saves chemical
saves time
saves money

21. Probes Siphon/rinse probes closed system (part) measure concentrates
eliminate mix/load process
reduce chance of waste and spills

22. Tank and Container Rinsers
Tank rinsers
internal to tank
more efficient
saves time and cleans more efficiently
Container rinsers
designed to rinse larger containers
does not puncture container

23. Closed Systems Eliminate manual mixing/loading process
Reduce exposure to concentrates
Reduce waste of concentrates
Reduce spill potential

24. Closed Systems - Small Systems and Backpack Sprayers
Nomix/Monsanto Expedite System
pre-packaged product (no mixing or handling)
self-sealing, no waste, refillable containers
five different herbicides

25. Closed Systems - Small Systems and Backpack Sprayers
Nomix/Monsanto Expedite System
backpack sprayer
reduced drift
nozzles
chemistry

26. Systems to Reduce Drift
Low drift nozzles
Spray shields
Low boom height
Proper use
low wind speeds
low pressures
selection of formulations with low drift potential

27. Injection Systems Closed system
Computer-controlled mixing and calibration
No large tank of diluted chemical
in-line mixing
Tank mixes
Eliminates waste and saves time

28. Portable Sumps Decontamination sites
Up to 33 linear feet of work area and 1,465 gallon sumps
Eliminate spills and runoff from load/fill sites
Comply with existing and future disposal regulations

29. Summary - Affecting Exposure
Reduced risk handling systems
formulations and packaging eliminate handling concentrates and mixing
containers reduce spills and accidents
closed systems and computer controlled systems reduce fatigue and mistakes
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
still the best way to reduce exposure

30. Summary - Affecting Toxicity
Reduced risk pesticide products
low toxicity compounds
new registrations (many post 1993)
most biologicals and low rate products
formulations and packaging

31. Virginia Registered Products
Products registered specifically in Virginia
not all inclusive
does not imply other products are illegal
notice low risk products in list
WSP, WSB, Dry-Pak, ChemPaks,
G, RTU, WDG
IGR, phermones, milky spore, B.t.