Waste assessment of agricultural chemicals, petroleum products and maintenance residuals on farmsteads

The purpose of this study was to evaluate waste management practices of pur chasing, handling, storage, and disposal of agricultural chemicals, petrole um products, and maintenance residuals, One-hundred surveys were returned b y agricultural producers from three Nebraska counties selected based on uni que environmental and waste management issues. Twenty-four questions concer ning agricultural chemicals and 16 questions directed to petroleum products and maintenance residuals are discussed. A follow-up interview with 45 res pondents was conducted "on-site" to gain insight into their reported practi ces, perceptions, and actual practices. Most farmers (66%) fended to purcha se pesticides in 3.8 to 10 L (1-2.5 gal) containers and most (79%) were wil ling to participate in a recycling program for pesticide containers. Most o f the respondents burned soft/hard plastic and paper pesticide containers, or returned the metal containers to the supplier: Few farmers took pesticid e containers to landfills, or buried or stored containers in their field. M ost farmers (76%) applied left-over diluted chemical residues or rinsates e venly on the field just sprayed. Eighty-one percent of the farmers stored p esticides and 89% stored fertilizers at locations greater than 31 m (101 ft ) from a water source. Only 9% of the respondents indicated they had contai nment barriers for stationary bulk pesticides, fertilizer storage tanks, or transportable nurse tanks. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents and 84% of the interviewed farmers did nor record or monitor volumes of petroleum storage. Farmers tended to have trash dumps (62%) and junk piles (57%) on t heir farmsteads. Geographic location within the state and size of the farms tead had an effect on whether the farms had dumps. Most farmers (94%) felt they used appropriate recycling methods to deal with waste products. Howeve r over half of the farmers were unaware of the location of the petroleum (o il) recycling station. Most farmers (94%) indicated they felt they purchase d replacement items based on long life instead of lowest price.