Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs1 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

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs2 Factors That Increase Risk l Toxicity »chemicals »physical conditions »human health factors l Exposure (handler) »mixing/loading »application »cleanup »storage/transport »disposal l Exposure (workers/public) »entering treated areas »movement off site »transport »mix/load/storage sites »disposal »spills »exposure to treated crops

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs3 Areas Where Growers Can Reduce Their Risks l Toxicity »less toxic pesticides »non-chemical alternatives »rate, dilution, formulation l Exposure (handler) »use PPE »use of advanced packaging systems »implement advanced handling systems l 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

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs4 Today’s Topics l Disposal and waste minimization l Advanced handling technology »systems to reduce exposure, drift, waste l Discussion of registered products based on: »toxicity »reduced risk formulations and packaging »alternatives l Choosing personal protective equipment (PPE)

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs5 Disposal Basics l Avoid excess stored inventories l Minimize excess pesticides and rinsates l Avoid the need to dispose of pesticide containers as wastes

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs6 Disposal Methods l Storage l Reuse l Remediation l Recycling l Burial l Incineration

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs7 Excess Pesticides l Buy only what you need for one season l Calculate dilutions carefully l Use all mixed pesticide as labeled l Apply excess mix as labeled on site »can’t exceed rate and frequency »comply with application directions l Return or give away excess products l Add rinsates to tank

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs8 Pesticide Wastes l Excess pesticides and rinsates must be disposed of as wastes l Sanitary landfills will take rinsed containers only l Store wastes »under RCRA guidelines –small hazardous waste generator l 2.2lbs. (acute) / 2,300 lbs/month l farmer exemptions l Have wastes hauled »commercial haulers

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs9 Containers l Use refillable or returnable containers l Recycle or recondition containers l Use soluble packaging

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs10 Container Design l Redesigned to reduce spills and enhance handling »no-”glug” openings »reduced weight »impact resistant »measure and pour spouts »closed systems »elimination of traditional containers

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs11 Container Contents l Low rate technology »ounces/acre »smaller containers l Reduced risk pesticides »lower toxicity »more flexible handling »reduce number of containers »may eliminate some products as hazardous waste

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs12 Returnable/Refillable Paks l Mini-bulks and small volume returnables »ag. and specialty » gallon –Novartis l FarmPak/TurfPak –Aqumix l 15 gallon l dilute or concentrate l closed systems l rights-of-way industry

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs13 Recyclable and Reconditionable Containers l Must be properly rinsed »metal »plastic –chipped and recycled l Drums »30 and 55 gallon »return to dealer »reconditioning »reuse

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs14 Soluble Containers l Vinyl-alcohol water soluble films »Water soluble “paks” »Gel paks »Effervescent tablets »Biodegradable containers »Bag-in-bag l Impregnated fabrics and plastics

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs15 Water Soluble Paks l Reduced packaging »paper outer shell »non-hazardous waste l Water soluble pouch »polyvinyl alcohol l Dry formulations »water dispersible granules (WDG) »wettable or soluble powders (WP or SP)

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs16 Gel Paks l Reduced packaging »water soluble pouch »supports mixtures »non-hazardous waste l Liquid formulation »gel –sensitive to impact –water soluble –self-sealing

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs17 Effervescent Tablets l Scored tablets »cut dosages l Dissolve in mix water l Prescribed amounts »no mixing and loading of concentrates

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs18 Impregnated Fabrics/Plastics l Contained in pockets on plastic or synthetic landscape fabric l Used as mulches to inhibit weed growth l Slow release from pockets

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs19 Handling Rinsates and Reducing Wastes l Triple rinsing ( ) l Probes and Jets »jet rinsers »siphon/rinse probes »tank rinsers »container rinsers l Closed systems l Injection systems l Portable sumps

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs20 Jet Rinsers l Accepted alternative to triple rinsing l Inexpensive l Very efficient »speeds up rinsing »saves chemical »saves time »saves money

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs21 Probes l Siphon/rinse probes »closed system (part) »measure concentrates »eliminate mix/load process »reduce chance of waste and spills

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs22 Tank and Container Rinsers l Tank rinsers »internal to tank »more efficient »saves time and cleans more efficiently l Container rinsers »designed to rinse larger containers »does not puncture container

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs23 Closed Systems l Eliminate manual mixing/loading process l Reduce exposure to concentrates l Reduce waste of concentrates l Reduce spill potential

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs24 Closed Systems - Small Systems and Backpack Sprayers l Nomix/Monsanto Expedite System »pre-packaged product (no mixing or handling) –self-sealing, no waste, refillable containers l five different herbicides

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs25 Closed Systems - Small Systems and Backpack Sprayers l Nomix/Monsanto Expedite System »backpack sprayer –reduced drift l nozzles l chemistry

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs26 Systems to Reduce Drift l Low drift nozzles l Spray shields l Low boom height l Proper use »low wind speeds »low pressures »selection of formulations with low drift potential

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs27 Injection Systems l Closed system l Computer-controlled mixing and calibration l No large tank of diluted chemical »in-line mixing l Tank mixes l Eliminates waste and saves time

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs28 Portable Sumps l Decontamination sites l Up to 33 linear feet of work area and 1,465 gallon sumps l Eliminate spills and runoff from load/fill sites l Comply with existing and future disposal regulations

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs29 Summary - Affecting Exposure l 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 l Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) »still the best way to reduce exposure

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs30 Summary - Affecting Toxicity l Reduced risk pesticide products »low toxicity compounds »new registrations (many post 1993) »most biologicals and low rate products »formulations and packaging

Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs31 Virginia Registered Products l Products registered specifically in Virginia »not all inclusive »does not imply other products are illegal l notice low risk products in list »WSP, WSB, Dry-Pak, ChemPaks, »G, RTU, WDG »IGR, phermones, milky spore, B.t.