PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Washington - - PDF document

PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Washington * Idaho * Oregon

In cooperation with: Far West Agribusiness Association

Washington State Department of Ecology Washington State Department of Agriculture Agricultural Container Recycling Council Washington State University

CHALLENGES FOR OUR MOBILE RECYCLING SERVICE PNW Recycling Program Structure

• Northwest Ag Plastics, Inc. is contracted by the

Agricultural Container Recycling Council (ACRC) to collect pesticide containers in WA, OR and ID.

• The ACRC was formed in 1992 by many of the

major chemical manufacturers to promote environmental stewardship through container recycling.

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Why? To increase volume Allows customers to drop off at their convenience Reduces our number of stops which saves time and fuel

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

How? Discuss storage options with customer Help determine what type of storage fits their operation We have provided storage units to high volume customers

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Challenges - Logistics

• Collecting containers at central locations

Challenges - Logistics

• Providing service to over 100 locations multiple

times per year Requires multiple levels of operations We start with a “Core Schedule” There are always the “Call ins” And Those that don’t want to be on a public schedule

Challenges - Logistics

• Adequate crew and equipment – equipment needs to
• perate independently. It needs to be fast and

efficient. We have back up equipment We have back up plans for the back up equipment

Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics

Challenges - Logistics Challenges – Equipment Maintenance

We want to provide fast, efficient and reliable service Maintenance is a must to prevent breakdowns in the field Over-the-road trucks are required to have annual DOT inspections Maintenance is a significant cost to our operation Even when its done right, things happen

Challenges – Regulatory Compliance

Commercial truck drivers license (CDL) Truck driver and truck use logs Multi-state truck licensing (IFTA) State and federal road taxes (prorationing/PR plates, UTC registration) Random drug testing program

Challenges – Employees

Must be responsible type people Must be self starters Must follow instructions Must be somewhat mechanical Must not be injury prone Must feel like a member of the company and want to see it prosper

Challenges – Employees

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Challenges – Loading on truck

When we first started out we ground into a bag located on the chipping trailer Even when we went to a larger chipper, we were loading one bag at a time To be more efficient, we needed to be able to load bags

• n our truck without a forklift

Challenges – Loading on truck

a

Challenges – Loading on truck

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Challenges - Logistics Challenges – Cutting barrels

We needed a safe, efficient and fast method to cut 30 and 55 gallon drums in half We were not satisfied with the speed or safety of using skill saws, chops saws or chain saws A band saw turned out to be what we were looking for

Challenges – Cutting barrels

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Challenges – Cutting barrels

Challenges – Cutting barrels Challenges – Recycling friendly containers

Decontaminated No foreign materials Only HDPE plastic

Challenges – Recycling friendly containers Challenges – Recycling friendly containers Challenges – Recycling friendly containers Challenges – Recycling friendly containers

Challenges – Communication Challenges – Communication The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook Success is going from failure to failure without loosing your enthusiasm If it were easy, anybody could do it For Further Information

Steve George Northwest Ag Plastics, Inc. 350 Hoff Road Moxee, WA 98936 Phone (office): 509-457-3850 Phone (cell): 509-930-2335 Fax: 509-575-6536

Website: www.nwagplastics.com E-mail: steve@nwagplastics.com