05/25/07 Container disposal

The state of Idaho has a program that recycles plastic fertilizer containers. All it takes is a call to Vic Mason at the Idaho Department of Agriculture and that send the truck and grinder on its way. MASON "We'll drive right out to their site and either grind them up on site or we'll pick them up in a bag. If they don't have any we'll give them bags and they can put it bags and we'll put it on the truck." He can only accept triple rinsed plastic containers and the lid and label book must be removed. The containers are chipped and later will be turned into building blocks and other recycled materials. Is this program successful? When first started Mason annually got less than nine thousand containers; last year over 140 thousand. That's why a second truck has been added, stationed in Idaho Falls. MASON "Its going to have a mast on it which will be permanently stationed on top of the truck so all the chips will be loaded on the bed of the truck so that I don't even need the hoister to help load it onto the truck." You can go to the ISDA website for more info or call Vic Mason at 465-8442. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott