PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Washington - PDF document

CHALLENGES FOR OUR In cooperation with: Far West Agribusiness Association Washington State Department of Ecology MOBILE RECYCLING SERVICE Washington State Department of Agriculture Agricultural Container Recycling Council Washington State University PESTICIDE CONTAINER RECYCLING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Washington * Idaho * Oregon PNW Recycling Program Structure Challenges - Logistics  Northwest Ag Plastics, Inc. is contracted by the Agricultural Container Recycling Council  Collecting containers at central locations (ACRC) to collect pesticide containers in WA, OR Why? To increase volume and ID. Allows customers to drop off at their convenience  The ACRC was formed in 1992 by many of the Reduces our number of stops which major chemical manufacturers to promote saves time and fuel environmental stewardship through container recycling. Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics  Collecting containers at central locations  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 Challenges - Logistics  Collecting containers at central locations  Collecting containers at central locations Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics  Collecting containers at central locations  Collecting containers at central locations Challenges - Logistics Challenges - Logistics  Providing service to over 100 locations multiple  Collecting containers at central locations 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 Challenges - Logistics  Adequate crew and equipment – equipment needs to operate 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 – 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 Challenges – Employees Commercial truck drivers license (CDL) Must be responsible type people Truck driver and truck use logs Must be self starters Multi-state truck licensing (IFTA) Must follow instructions State and federal road taxes (prorationing/PR plates, Must be somewhat mechanical UTC registration) Must not be injury prone Random drug testing program Must feel like a member of the company and want to see it prosper Challenges – Employees 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 on our truck without a forklift a

Challenges – Loading on truck Challenges – Loading on truck a a 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 Challenges – Cutting barrels a

Challenges – Recycling Challenges – Cutting barrels friendly containers Decontaminated No foreign materials Only HDPE plastic Challenges – Recycling Challenges – Recycling friendly containers friendly containers Challenges – Recycling Challenges – Recycling friendly containers 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