The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has a strong commitment to ensuring
compliance with New Jersey’s mandatory recycling regulations. The Department
has developed and/or facilitated several economic development programs to
assist Garden State farmers to recycle the plastic generated on their farm operations and reduce their solid waste disposal fees.
For additional information on New Jersey's various agricultural recycling programs, contact the Recycling Program Manager New Jersey Department of Agriculture at (609) 913-6490
- Nursery and Greenhouse Film (Year-Round)
- Pesticide Containers - Burlington
- Pesticide Containers - Monmouth
- Pesticide Containers (Seasonal) - Salem
- Pesticide Containers (Seasonal) - Atlantic
- Agricultural Plastics - Mulch Film and Drip Irrigation Tape (Year-Round)
- Plastic Nursery Pots, Plug trays, Flats
- Nursery and Greenhouse Film (Year-Round)
The Department administers a nursery and greenhouse film recycling program that is a model for states nationwide. Film is accepted at two regional collection sites, which each have their own tipping fees. Vehicles used to transport the greenhouse and nursery film are not required to be licensed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as long as the used film is transported directly to one of the sites participating in New Jersey's recycling program. Film will be accepted at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex, in Deerfield
View the recommended guidelines for bundling procedures.
View the Nursery and Greenhouse Film Collection Sites.
- Pesticide Containers - Burlington
View the Plastic Pesticide Container Collection Schedule.
View the New Jersey Pesticide Container Collection Program Guide.
Allied Recycling
2658 Route 206
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060Allied Recycling of Mounty Holly, NJ has partnered with NJDA and the Burlington County Board of Agriculture to promote a free recycling of plastic pesticide containers. This program is offered to agricultural, professional and commercial pesticide applicators who hold NJDEP pesticide licenses. Also, state, county and municipal government agencies may participate. One core credit will be given to pesticide license holders who follow the few simple processing steps below and bring their license with them at time of collection. Allied Recycling will accept non-refillable, high-density polyethylene #2 (HDPE) containers that are no larger than 55 gallons and that have been triple rinsed. You must make sure containers are dry inside after they are rinsed out and either cut a 6-inch slit in the bottom or drill a quarter-inch hold in the bottom of the container to insure it will not hold liquids. Lids must be removed. Foil seal also must be removed. Containers that are 30 gallon size must be cut up into 4 pieces using a sawzall, chainsaw, circular saw, etc. 55 gallon containers must be cut up into 8 pieces accordingly. Non-waxy cardboard also will be accepted during this collection program, since most of these products are sold in cardboard boxes. Containers will not accept if they have held any type of petroleum oil product or antifreeze. Pesticide containers with any liquid or dried residue will not be accepted. No mini-bulk, saddle tanks or nurse tanks will be accepted, as they may be made of fiberglass. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will be on-site at each collection to insure containers are prepared properly and to issue one core credit to those who qualify.
For more information, contact the following: NJDA Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, (609) 913-6490, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cream Ridge, or Allied Recycling at 609-832-2208.
- Pesticide Containers - Monmouth
View the Plastic Pesticide Container Collection Schedule.
View the New Jersey Pesticide Container Collection Program Guide.
Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center
283 Route 539
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514-9634
609-758-7311The Rutgers Extension Office of Cream Ridge has partnered with Allied Recycling of Mount Holly, NJ and the Monmouth County Board of Agriculture to promote a free recycling of plastic pesticide containers. This program is offered to agricultural, professional and commercial pesticide applicators who hold NJDEP pesticide licenses. Also, state, county and municipal government agencies may participate. One core credit will be given to pesticide license holders who follow the few simple processing steps below and bring their license with them at time of collection. Rutgers Cooperative Extension in Cream Ridge will accept non-refillable, high-density polyethylene #2 (HDPE) containers that are no larger than 55 gallons and that have been triple rinsed. You must make sure containers are dry inside after they are rinsed out and either cut a 6-inch slit in the bottom or drill a quarter-inch hold in the bottom of the container to insure it will not hold liquids. Lids must be removed. Foil seal also must be removed. Containers that are 30 gallon size must be cut up into 4 pieces using a sawzall, chainsaw, circular saw, etc. 55 gallon containers must be cut up into 8 pieces accordingly. Containers will not accept if they have held any type of petroleum oil product or antifreeze. Pesticide containers with any liquid or dried residue will not be accepted. No mini-bulk, saddle tanks or nurse tanks will be accepted, as they may be made of fiberglass. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will be on-site at each collection to insure containers are prepared properly and to issue one core credit to those who qualify.
For more information, contact the following: NJDA Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, (609) 913-6490, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cream Ridge, or Allied Recycling at 609-832-2208.
- Pesticide Containers (Seasonal) - Salem
View the Plastic Pesticide Container Collection Schedule.
View the New Jersey Pesticide Container Collection Program Guide.
The Salem County Utilities Authority has partnered with Helena Chemical, of Woodstown, NJ, and the Salem County Board of Agriculture to promote a free program, recycling plastic pesticide containers for Salem County. The collection program will be held at Helena Chemical, 440 North Main Street in Woodstown.
This program is offered to agricultural, professional and commercial pesticide applicators, along with Helena Chemical customers who hold NJDEP pesticide licenses. Also, state, county and municipal government agencies may participate. One core credit will be given to pesticide license holders who follow the few simple processing steps below and bring their license with them at time of collection.
Helena Chemical will accept non-refillable, high-density polyethylene #2 (HDPE) containers that are no larger than 55 gallons and that have been triple rinsed. You must make sure containers are dry inside after they are rinsed out and either cut a 6-inch slit in the bottom or drill a quarter-inch hold in the bottom of the container to insure it will not hold liquids. Lids must be removed. Foil seal also must be removed. Containers that are 30 gallon size must be cut up into 4 pieces using a sawszall, chainsaw, circular saw, etc. 55 gallon containers must be cut up into 8 pieces accordingly. Non-waxy cardboard also will be accepted during this collection program, since most of these products are sold in cardboard boxes. Collection of cardboard will take place every Friday 1 pm to 3 pm from April through October.
Helena Chemical will not accept containers if they have held any type of petroleum oil product or antifreeze. Pesticide containers with any liquid or dried residue will not be accepted. No mini-bulk, saddle tanks or nurse tanks will be accepted, as they may be made of fiberglass. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will be on-site at each collection to insure containers are prepared properly and to issue one core credit to those who qualify.
For more information, contact the following: NJDA Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources, 609-913-6490; Helena Chemical, 856-769-0147; or SCUA, 856-935-7900.
- Pesticide Containers (Seasonal) - Atlantic
View the Plastic Pesticide Container Collection Schedule.
View the New Jersey Pesticide Container Collection Program Guide.The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has a strong commitment to ensuring compliance with New Jersey’s mandatory recycling regulations. The Department has developed and/or facilitated several economic development programs to
assist Garden State farmers to recycle the plastic generated on their farm operations and reduce their solid waste disposal fees.
For additional information on New Jersey's various agricultural recycling programs, contact the Recycling Program Manager New Jersey Department of Agriculture at (609) 913-6490.
- Agricultural Plastics - Mulch Film and Drip Irrigation Tape (Year-Round)
A new opportunity exists that will enable farmers to recycle their mulch film and drip irrigation tape. The cost of disposing of 20,000 pounds of this material can be up to $580 at a landfill.
Farmers are encouraged to maintain a quality control program when preparing the mulch film and drip irrigation tape for storage or delivery. In order to market the film, the vendors must be able to provide an ample supply of quality material. The success and future of this program lies on the shoulders of the farmer participants and their cooperation.
View vendor information for mulch film and drip tape.
The Department of Agriculture will update the web site as they are contacted by plastic recycling vendors who wish to be included in a nursery pot recycling information.
- Plastic Nursery Pots, Plug trays, Flats
A new opportunity exists that will enable farmers to recycle nursery pots, plastic flats, trays, and Cell packs. The cost of disposing of HDPE #2 nursery pots weighing 20,000 pounds can be up to $580 at a landfill. Plastics recyclers are looking for these materials and offering to pay for the scrap.
The basic steps required to prepare the scrap for pickup a relatively simple. The key factor is that each type plastic is segregated on separate pallets. Most of the plastic has a code stamped on it (#6 keynotes polystyrene, #5 polypropylene, and #2 HDPE). All plastics, with the same code, regardless of size, style or color, can be placed on the scene pallet. In cases where the type of plastic cannot be identified, miscellaneous items can be placed on a separate pallets with a notation that the plastic needs to be sorted. Farmers willing to segregate the different types of plastics will receive a better price for the plastic.
Some plastics recyclers will generally pick up half or full trailer loads of material. For shipments of only a few pallets, the plastic recyclers will generally try to combine the pickup with another farmer in the area as a way to fill up the trailer.
In the end, the farmer will save landfill tipping fees which can run upwards of $100 per ton in New Jersey, they can generate $20-$100 per ton in revenues by recycling and they will do their part to help New Jersey increase its recycling.
View vendor information for recycling nursery pots. The Department of Agriculture will update the web site as they are contacted by plastic recycling vendors who wish to be included in a nursery pot recycling information.
