1. (a) The Department of Agriculture, in consultation and cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, shall design and implement a pilot pesticide container collection project, to be completed by June 30, 1991, to:

   1. (1) collect and recycle empty, triple-rinsed pesticide containers;
   2. (2) develop, demonstrate, and promote proper pesticide container management; and

   3. (3) evaluate current pesticide container management methods and the cause and extent of problems associated with pesticide containers.

      By November 30, 1991, the Department of Agriculture shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly its conclusions from the project, and its recommendations for additional legislation or regulations governing management of pesticide containers.

2. (b) The Environmental Protection Agency shall develop informational and educational materials to promote proper methods of pesticide container management.

3. (c) The Department of Agriculture shall provide for the establishment and operation of temporary collection sites for pesticide containers. The Environmental Protection Agency may limit the type and quantity of pesticide containers acceptable for collection.

   During the pilot project, the Department of Agriculture shall conduct surveys and collect information on proper and improper pesticide container storage and disposal.

   The Department of Agriculture and any other entity collecting pesticide containers shall manage and dispose of the containers in compliance with applicable federal and State requirements.

4. (d) For the purposes of this Section, the term "pesticide" means a substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest, and a substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.

(from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 7057.2)

(Source: P.A. 86-1026.)