Pesticide Waste Disposal in Agriculture - ACS Symposium Series

3 Pesticide Waste Disposal in Agriculture CHARLES V. HALL

Downloaded by CORNELL UNIV on September 1, 2016 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: August 15, 1984 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1984-0259.ch003

Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 Chemical compounds c l a s s i f i e d as pesticides (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides) t o t a l over 500. Others used as rodenticides, desiccants, defoliants, e t c . , increase that number. Agricult u r a l uses include all crops and livestock on farms, plus those used as seed treatments, i n greenhouses, parks, golf courses, nurseries and lawns i n urban areas. Chemicals are applied by farmers, industry, or i n s t i t u t i o n a l employees, commercial applicators and individual c i t i z e n s . With proper planning the most common form of waste to be disposed of i s dilute rinse water. Occasionally discontinued or non-usable concentrate pesticides must and can be disposed of safely. Greatest dangers of improper disposal are to water supplies, food or feeds, recreation areas, animal habitats, and other waste disposal facilities. Three years research conducted j o i n t l y by 6 departments at Iowa State University and sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has demonstrated that wastes from over 45 pesticides were safely disposed of by containment i n a concrete p i t allowing evaporation of the l i q u i d component, and biodegradation, and other forms of pesticide decay. P l a s t i c lined p i t s were less satisfactory. A small disposal p i t suitable for individual farmers and small applicators has been developed. Pesticide Use A prominent publisher (1) lists 678 compounds which are classed as pesticides and used i n the broad field of agriculture. Included are insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides, growth regulators, etc. These compounds are often used to adjust the b i o l o g i c a l balance i n favor of the desired plant or animal 0097-6156/ 84/0259-0027$06.00/0 © 1984 American Chemical Society

Krueger and Seiber; Treatment and Disposal of Pesticide Wastes ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1984.

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T R E A T M E N T A N D DISPOSAL O F PESTICIDE WASTES


population being grown or the products being s t o r e d . They a l s o are used to completely e l i m i n a t e the unwanted competitor. Many are used to p r o t e c t human h e a l t h . The number o f p e s t i c i d e s used on a l a r g e s c a l e i n a g r i c u l t u r e probably does not exceed 100 and o f t e n they are very s p e c i f i c . A l s o , many are marketed i n d i f f e r e n t f o r m u l a t i o n s . The r e l a t i v e volume of waste to be disposed o f i s not p r o p o r t i o n a l to the volume o f p e s t i c i d e s used. For example, the volume of h e r b i c i d e s used on corn, soybeans, etc., i s very l a r g e , but l i t t l e waste i s generated. Container r i n s a t e i s r e c y c l e d by t r i p l e r i n s i n g back i n t o the sprayer tank. Commercial a p p l i c a t o r s use r i n s a t e s where the same chemical i s being used and only r i n s e the sprayer when a d i f f e r e n t p e s t i c i d e i s being used or when d i s c o n t i n u i n g the o p e r a t i o n . Nature and Handling of Wastes Often p e s t i c i d e wastes, which r e q u i r e s p e c i a l d i s p o s a l f a c i l i t i e s , are i n a d i l u t e form and r e s u l t from r i n s a t e s from c o n t a i n e r s , spray tanks, and equipment wash water. These may o r i g i n a t e from the small a p p l i c a t o r or l a r g e commercial operator. Such wastes should be sprayed on an area f o r which they are approved or placed i n a safe d i s p o s a l f a c i l i t y . O c c a s i o n a l l y , f a i r l y l a r g e volumes of recommended c o n c e n t r a t i o n d i l u t e mixtures r e s u l t i n g from l i v e s t o c k d i p p i n g operations, overestimating the amount needed f o r a spray o p e r a t i o n , e t c . , must be d i s c a r d e d . For such operations, safe f a c i l i t i e s or procedures are e s s e n t i a l to p r o t e c t human h e a l t h and environmental s a f e t y . I f a hazardous chemical, such as toxaphene i s used, which r e q u i r e s many years to degrade, the waste should be p r o p e r l y contained. However, most organo-phosphates are r e a d i l y biodegradable and can be spread on land i n accordance with l a b e l recommendations. In a l l cases, d i s p o s a l must be i n accordance with the F e d e r a l Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and s t a t e and l o c a l r e g u l a t i o n s . P e s t i c i d e wastes can and should be minimized by c a r e f u l l y c a l c u l a t i n g the p r e c i s e amount o f p e s t i c i d e needed and then a p p l y i n g that e n t i r e amount on the area of intended use. A l l l i q u i d c o n t a i n e r s should be t r i p l e r i n s e d , punctured, and disposed of i n an authorized solid-waste f a c i l i t y or p r o p e r l y r e c y c l e d . Paper bags, p l a s t i c c o n t a i n e r s , e t c . , should be p r o p e r l y i n c i n e r a t e d or taken to an authorized solid-waste f a c i l i t y where s t a t e and l o c a l r e g u l a t i o n s permit. In cases where p e s t i c i d e s are d i s c o n t i n u e d , banned, flooded, out of date, contaminated or f i r e damaged, i t i s necessary to dispose o f concentrated or formulated compounds. These are abnormal s i t u a t i o n s and the s t a t e departments of environmental q u a l i t y and the U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency o f f i c i a l s provide a s s i s t a n c e i n such emergencies. They should be n o t i f i e d immediately as r e q u i r e d by f e d e r a l and s t a t e law. In many such cases d i s p o s a l can be accomplished over a period of time by d i l u t i o n , containment, biodégradation and evaporation.


3.

HALL

Pesticide Waste Disposal in Agriculture

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Combustion may be the most s a t i s f a c t o r y method f o r nonbiodegradable m a t e r i a l s . The problem o f d i s p o s a l o f long term r e s i d u a l m a t e r i a l s i s o f a l e s s e r magnitude than 10 years ago due to discontinued use, b e t t e r planning, higher cost o f chemicals, and use o f more r a p i d l y biodegradable p e s t i c i d e s . In f a c t , some p e s t i c i d e s c u r r e n t l y i n use biodegrade so r e a d i l y that they are l i m i t e d i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s as i n s e c t i c i d e s , h e r b i c i d e s , e t c . (3)· However, i t i s important that non-biodegradable chemicals be p r o p e r l y contained i n accordance with f e d e r a l r e g u l a t i o n u n t i l approved d i s p o s a l can be accomplished.


A System f o r Safe D i s p o s a l o f P e s t i c i d e Wastes The d i s p o s a l p i t (Figures 1 and 2 ) , used a t the H o r t i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n since 1970, was designed to c o n t a i n surplus d i l u t e d i n s e c t i c i d e s , f u n g i c i d e s , h e r b i c i d e s , growth r e g u l a t o r s , e t c . , from spraying operations f o r f r u i t , vegetable, ornamental and t u r f g r a s s research p l a n t i n g s . The farm c o n s i s t s o f 229 acres with d i v e r s i f i e d p l a n t i n g s . Therefore, the operation i s t y p i c a l of many a g r i c u l t u r a l research and development centers l o c a t e d throughout the U.S. i n that a wide v a r i e t y o f d i f f e r e n t p e s t i c i d e s are used which r e s u l t i n the generation o f small q u a n t i t i e s o f concentrate and l a r g e r amounts o f d i l u t e d p e s t i c i d e mixtures. The system described i n Table I was constructed to provide a safe and s a t i s f a c t o r y s o l u t i o n to the d i s p o s a l o f such wastes. Waste from over 45 p e s t i c i d e s were disposed o f i n the concrete p i t between 1970-76 (Table I I ) . Research was conducted at Iowa State U n i v e r s i t y by f a c u l t y i n the Departments o f Agronomy, A g r i c u l t u r a l Engineering, Energy and M i n e r a l Resource I n s t i t u t e , Entomology, M i c r o b i o l o g y , and H o r t i c u l t u r e . I t was sponsored by the U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency over a three year p e r i o d to evaluate the e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f current d i s p o s a l methods and develop new systems. In a d d i t i o n , evaporation o f d i l u t e p e s t i c i d e mixtures from a h o l d i n g p i t was compared with water evaporation from a standard weather evaporation pan and c o r r e l a t e d with temperature, r e l a t i v e humidity, sky c o n d i t i o n s , wind d i r e c t i o n , and v e l o c i t y . Evaporation models were developed f o r p r e d i c t i n g evaporative d i s p o s a l needs f o r other geographic r e g i o n s . A l s o , checks were made f o r leakage and a i r p o l l u t i o n . A l l methods and models are described f u l l y i n the f i n a l published r e p o r t ( 2 ) . A new l a r g e p i t was constructed a t the Agronomy-Agricultural Engineering Research Center with two thicknesses o f 6-mil black polyethylene p l a s t i c f i l m as a l i n e r . More i n t e n s i v e research was conducted i n 56 p l a s t i c m i n i p i t s to evaluate chemical i n t e r a c t i o n s , degradation, and b i o l o g i c a l a c t i v i t y ( 2 ) . Research r e s u l t s revealed that the concrete p i t a t the H o r t i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n was s a f e from leakage, d i d not present a hazard o f a i r p o l l u t i o n , and allowed chemical and m i c r o b i a l degradation o f the deposited m a t e r i a l s ( 2 ) . The concrete p i t , 12


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T R E A T M E N T A N D DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDE WASTES

Table I .

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e D i s p o s a l P i t shown i n F i g u r e 1.


Dimensions

—

12 f t by 30 f t by 4 f t deep

Construction —

8 i n c h r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e w a l l s and b o t t o m w i t h g r o o v e d c o n n e c t i o n and f l e x i b l e t i e s . (See ( 2 ) f o r d e t a i l s ) . An a u t o m a t e d m o b i l e c o v e r t o a l l o w f o r f u l l sun and w i n d e x p o s u r e . Has d r a i n t i l e i n s t a l l e d a r o u n d base w i t h a c c e s s i b l e r i s e r f o r sampling f o r leakage. C o n n e c t e d t o t h e m i x i n g room i n a d j a c e n t b u i l d i n g by a p i p e f r o m t h e sump t o p e r m i t t r a n s f e r o f a l l wash w a t e r f o r e v a p o r a t i o n .

Orientation —

on t h e w e s t end o f t h e p e s t i c i d e and s p r a y equipment s t o r a g e b u i l d i n g w i t h f u l l s o u t h and west e x p o s u r e t o sun and w i n d w h i c h maximizes e v a p o r a t i o n . R a i s e d above ground l e v e l t o p r e v e n t f l o o d i n g by s u r f a c e w a t e r f r o m heavy r a i n s .

Contents —

two one f t l a y e r s o f c o a r s e (3/4 i n ) washed r i v e r g r a v e l w i t h a one of f i e l d s o i l c o n t a i n i n g i n excess p e r c e n t o r g a n i c m a t t e r i n between soil-gravel) .

1 1/2 f t layer of three (gravel-

f t by 30 f t by 4 f t deep, f i l l e d w i t h a l a y e r o f g r a v e l , one f t o f s o i l , and a n o t h e r l a y e r o f g r a v e l , was e f f e c t i v e f o r e v a p o r a t i o n o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6000 g a l l o n s o f l i q u i d w a s t e s a n n u a l l y between A p r . 1 and O c t . 15 ( F i g u r e s 1 and 2 ) . The s o i l l a y e r w i t h i n the p i t c o n t a i n e d r e l a t i v e l y normal a e r o b i c b a c t e r i a l a c t i v i t y d u r i n g t h e s e months ( J O . The two p r i m a r y b a c t e r i a l g r o u p s were B a c i l l u s and Pseudomonas s p p . No c h e m i c a l p o l l u t i o n was d e t e c t e d i n t h e s a m p l i n g t i l e l o c a t e d b e n e a t h t h e p i t , i n t h e s t a t i o n w e l l 50 y a r d s away, o r i n t h e s t a t i o n l a k e 1000 y a r d s down g r a d e f r o m t h e d i s p o s a l s i t e . The s y s t e m i s e f f e c t i v e a t p r e s e n t a f t e r 13 s e a s o n s o f u s e . P e s t i c i d e c o n t a i n e r s were t r i p l e r i n s e d , c r u s h e d and d i s p o s e d o f as s o l i d waste ( F i g u r e 3 ) . Containment o f l i q u i d w a s t e s by t h e n e w l y c o n s t r u c t e d p l a s t i c l i n e d p i t was q u e s t i o n a b l e a f t e r one y e a r . T h e r e a p p e a r e d t o be some l e a k a g e or f l u c t u a t i o n o f t h e l i q u i d l e v e l . There i s c o n t i n u a l danger o f r u p t u r e o f s u c h l i n e r s by m e c h a n i c a l i n j u r y , c h e m i c a l i n t e r a c t i o n , rodents, e t c . , which could r e s u l t i n contamination



HALL


Figure 1. The concrete disposal p i t with automated mobile cover and adjacent p e s t i c i d e storage f a c i l i t y .

Figure 2.

Same as Figure 1 with cover c l o s e d .



32


Table I I .

P e s t i c i d e s used at the H o r t i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n 1970-76. Small amounts of l e f t o v e r d i l u t e d m a t e r i a l s were deposited.

Compound

Compound

Alachlor Atrazine Azinphos methyl Benomyl Bensulide Butralin Captan Carbaryl Chlorothalonil Chloroxuron Citcop 2,4-D 2,4-DB DCPA (Dacthal) Diathane M-22, M-45, and Dicamba Dichlobenil Diphenamid Endosulfan I and I I EPTC (Eptam) Ethylparation Folpet Glyphosate

Guthion Heptachlor Hexachlorobenzene Kelthane Lannate Malathion Mancozeb Maneb MCPP Methomy1 Methoxychlor Metribuzin Naptalam Omite Paraquat d i c h l o r i d e Penoxalin Phosmet Polyram Propachlor Simazine Sulphur Trifluralin

Z-78

of subsurface water where the water t a b l e i s high (5). C e r t a i n l y , two 6 m i l p o l y e t h y l e n e l a y e r s would be inadequate f o r long term containment, e s p e c i a l l y i f equipment i s to be d r i v e n over the f i l l s u r f a c e . In more a r i d regions the problem would be of l e s s e r magnitude f o r most commonly used a g r i c u l t u r a l p e s t i c i d e s and e s p e c i a l l y where the water t a b l e i s 200-300 f e e t deep and there i s a deep c l a y s u b s o i l l a y e r between. However, l o c a l r e g u l a t i o n s must be considered i n each case to ensure environmental s a f e t y . Summary and Current Status Based on research sponsored by the U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency and long term experience at Iowa State U n i v e r s i t y some e s s e n t i a l components o f safe d i s p o s a l o f a g r i c u l t u r a l p e s t i c i d e wastes were: 1) d i l u t i o n , 2) containment i n a s t r u c t u r e that w i l l



3.

HALL


Figure 3. H y d r a u l i c a l l y operated can crusher with f i v e cans before and a f t e r c r u s h i n g .


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gallon



34

not leak, overflow, f l o o d or otherwise p o l l u t e the environment, 3) evaporation of the water, and 4) b i o d e g r a t i o n of most compounds. The system i n use i s too l a r g e and elaborate f o r most farm, greenhouse, nursery, g o l f course, or small park o p e r a t i o n s , A new precast concrete m i c r o p i t was i n s t a l l e d at the Iowa State U n i v e r s i t y H o r t i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n i n 1983 which may serve as a model f o r such i n d i v i d u a l operators (Figures 4 and 5). The same f u n c t i o n a l components used i n the macropit were i n c o r p o r a t e d to provide maximum evaporation, b i o d e g r a t i o n , and environmental s a f e t y . Previous attempts to use p l a s t i c , f i b e r g l a s s and other containers were u n s u c c e s s f u l because o f f r e e z i n g , thawing, and r u p t u r i n g problems i n winter. T h i s s t r u c t u r e should withstand those c o n d i t i o n s and i n c o r p o r a t e s the g r a v e l - s o i l - g r a v e l system p r e v i o u s l y used. The cover i s s i m i l a r to that suggested f o r m o d i f i c a t i o n of the l a r g e p i t and pipes are i n s t a l l e d to permit sampling f o r leakage. M u l t i p l e u n i t s could e a s i l y be i n s t a l l e d depending on evaporative needs and l o c a l evaporation r a t e s . The same precautions should be used to avoid f l o o d i n g and to maximize evaporation. A l s o , s i m i l a r u n i t s should be a v a i l a b l e from l o c a l concrete products companies throughout the country. The s t r u c t u r e (12 f t by 30 f t by 4 f t deep) has been i n use at the H o r t i c u l t u r a l S t a t i o n s i n c e 1970 and during the three years i n t e n s i v e research, was used to dispose of over 6000 g a l l o n s of l i q u i d each year or the equivalent of approximately 35 surface inches per year. No contamination o f surrounding s o i l , water, or a i r was detected. Therefore, the system was found to be environmentally s a f e , however, some m o d i f i c a t i o n s could be made which would improve o v e r a l l e f f i c i e n c y of use and r e t a i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s (Table I I I ) .

Acknovle dgment s Funding f o r research conducted and reported (2) was provided under U.S. Environmental P r o t e c t i o n Agency Grant No. R804533, C i n c i n n a t i , Ohio. Other f a c u l t y a c t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n the research were: James B a k e r - A g r i c u l t u r a l Engineering, Paul Dahm-Entomology, Loras F r e i b u r g e r - H o r t i c u l t u r e , Layne Johnson-Microbiology, Gregor JunkEnergy and M i n e r a l Resources I n s t i t u t e , Fred W i l l i a m s Microbiology and Charles J . Rogers-U.S.E.P.A. as P r o j e c t O f f i c e r . O r i g i n a l macropit design was by Thamon Hazen and r e v i s i o n s by Dennis J o n e s - A g r i c u l t u r a l Engineers. Journal Paper No. J-11207 of the Iowa A g r i c u l t u r e and Home Economics Experiment S t a t i o n , Ames, Iowa. P r o j e c t No. 2216.


3.

HALL


35

Threaded Inserts

IT

ι ί 6" Mesh Reinforcement Wire


4 8 " I.D. RCP

5" Wall

#3 Rod on 2' Center #4 Rod on 12 " Center Each Way 6" Base

Figure 4. S t r u c t u r a l s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r a modified precast manhole s t r u c t u r e as r e v i s e d and redrawn from Iowa Concrete Products Co. SK-83-61.

Figure 5. The above concrete u n i t as i n s t a l l e d a t the I . S . U . H o r t i c u l t u r e S t a t i o n as a small q u a n t i t y d i s p o s a l u n i t .


36

T R E A T M E N T AND D I S P O S A L O F P E S T I C I D E W A S T E S


Table III.

Suggested Modifications for the Concrete Macropit.

1.

Install a raised fixed cover of opaque corregated fiberglass in hinged sections which slope to prevailing sun and with sufficient overhang to prevent rain from entering. The cover should be designed to withstand maximum wind velocities for region where located.

2.

Enclose the disposal pit with 1/2 in mesh hail screen attached to cover support posts, to keep children and animals from entering and debris from collecting on the pit surface.

3.

Install an enclosed wash rack for equipment in an adjacent structure with drain connected through a sump (pump installed) for disposal of wash water from tank and equipment. Wash rack must have a cleanout trap for removal of soil and other debris from equipment. Install a recirculating pump with a mist system for enhancement of evaporation in more humid climates.

4. 5.

Design capacity to needs based on environmental conditions of the region and state, and local regulations.

6.

Provide adequate sampling tubes, or tiles, to conform to federal and state monitoring regulations.

Literature Cited 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Farm Chemicals Handbook 82. Meister Pub. Co. p. C 3-318. Hall, Charles V. et a l . "Safe Disposal Methods for Agricultural Pesticide Wastes". National Technical Information Service. May 1981. PB-81-197 584. Fox, Jeffery L. Soil Microbes Pose Problems for Pesticides. Science. Vol. 221, No. 4615, pp. 1029-30. Sept. 9, 1983. Johnson, Layne M. and Paul A. Hartman. Microbiology of a Pesticide Disposal Pit. Bull. of Environm. Contom. Toxical. 25, 448-455 (1980). Haxo, H. E . , Jr. Interaction of Selected Lining Materials with Various Hazardous Wastes. II. Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Research Suymposium. U.S.E.P.A. pp. 160-180. March 1980.

RECEIVED March 6, 1984


Pesticide Waste Disposal in Agriculture - ACS Symposium Series

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