What is the correct procedure for empty, rinsed pesticide containers?

The correct procedure for handling empty, rinsed pesticide containers is to puncture and dispose of them in a sanitary landfill. This approach helps to ensure that any residual pesticide in the container does not pose a risk to the environment or human health. Puncturing the containers prevents them from being reused for unintended purposes and ensures they are unable to retain any residual chemicals.

In many cases, local regulations dictate that pesticide containers must be managed in a specific way, and disposing of them in a landfill designed to handle such waste is often the safest approach. This method is consistent with Best Management Practices for pesticide container disposal, which prioritize safety and compliance with environmental standards.

Other disposal options, such as burning the containers as waste, pose significant health and environmental risks since burning can release toxic chemicals into the air. Reusing containers without proper cleaning can lead to contamination and misapplication of pesticides, and simply storing them in hopes of reuse is not a responsible method as it can still present hazards if not completely clean. Thus, puncturing and disposing of them in a sanitary landfill is the most appropriate action.