SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 46

(By Senator Edgell)


Requesting the United States Environmental Protection Agency authorize rulemaking for programs relating to the recycling of one-way pesticide containers.

Whereas, Pesticide container recycling has a number of environmental and economical benefits. More than 20 million pounds of one-way pesticide containers have been collected and recycled through a unique and productive partnership of state pesticide agencies, extension offices, trade associations and pesticide registrants. Collected plastic is consolidated and made into products such as field drain pipes and marine pilings; and
Whereas, For the past 13 years, the pesticide container recycling program has been managed and promoted by the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC), a nonprofit organization established for this purpose. The ACRC is funded by more than 30 companies that formulate, produce, package and distribute crop protection and other pesticide products; and
Whereas, The American Association of Pesticide Control Officials, CropLife America and the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment are working with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to expand participation in ACRC. These organizations propose that manufacturers either participate in the funding of ACRC or show that they provide end users of one-way plastic pesticide containers with an opportunity to recycle. These organizations further propose that recycling by the end user remain voluntary and that triple-rinsed containers continue to be treated as nonhazardous material able to be discarded in a landfill. In addition, CropLife America and Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment encourage rulemaking by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Pesticide Programs to establish a standard for recycling pesticide containers, facilitating the widespread collection and recycling of these containers; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the United States Environmental Protection Agency authorize rulemaking for programs relating to the recycling of one-way pesticide containers; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and West Virginia's congressional delegation.