SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois agriculture officials are encouraging farmers and agrichemical facilities to save empty chemical containers for recycling late this summer.

Agriculture Department Director John Sullivan announced Wednesday that the state will collect empty pesticide other chemical containers at various sites from mid-August and into September .

The containers can be recycled into shipping pallets, lumber and other plastic products.

Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for recycling. Collection sites will accept only high-density polyethylene containers. They're commonly known as No. 2 plastic. Participants must rinse containers and remove all labels, caps, booklets and foil.

Program assistance comes from the Agriculture Container Recycling Council, GROWMARK Inc., the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, G. Phillips and Sons, the Illinois Farm Bureau, and the University of Illinois Extension.

Courtesy : www.sfchronicle.com