Using pesticides according to the label and following best practice will ensure their impact on the environment is minimised. Since 1999 disposal to land of surplus spray or washings that does not take place "in the crop" has required a "Groundwater Authorisation" from the local environment agency office. Further waste regulations were introduced in 2006 which prohibit the buringor burial of pesticide containers in England and Wales. Similar arrangements apply in Northen Ireland and Scotland.

There are five types of waste that may be generated:

1: Surplus Spray and Washings (interior/exterior)

2: Empty containers and packaging

3: Waste from spills

4: Unwanted/unapproved pesticides

5: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

To reduce disposal costs the best approach is in minimize waste production at source. Non-hazardous waste is less expensive to dispose of.

• Order sufficient product to do the job in hand and no more;
• Buy products in the largest practical container sizes and consider returnable packs;
• Store products in good order;
• Choose products which minimise or eliminate contaminated packaging waste.

Surplus Spray and Washings 

To minimise surplus spray:

• carefully calculate required spray quantities and mix just enough to complete the task;
• Avoid being caught out by changes in the weather

Use internal sprayer, tank-cleaning units and container rinsing devices

There are four routes of disposal:

In Crop - Groundwater Authorisation is not required if the sprayer is empitied and cleaned in the field being treated as long as part of the field is left unsprayed or under-dosed for the purpose. Dilute surplus spray solution with at least ten times clean water and spray out onto treated field, ensure that the maximum dose approved for the crop is not exceeded. For specific herbicides, such as SUs, follow the manufacturer's recommended proceedure.

Grass Area - Groundwater Authorisation by the Environment Agency is required to apply sprayer washings to an un-cropped grassed area (not fallow or stubble) of minimal wildlife value.

Biobed - Sprayer washings, both internal & external, can be drained to a drive-over or offset biobed. lined biobeds are preferred and should not require a Groundwater Authorisation. Unlined biobeds will require and authorisation. Before building a biobed check whether or not you need a Waste Regulation exemption. (Environment Agency Agricultural waste line 0845 6033113)

Fully Contained Wash-down Area - Groundwater Authorisation is not required if sprayer washings are drained to tank and then sent for professional disposal.

Fully Contained Wash-down Area with a Sentinal Treatment Facility - Groundwater Authorisation is not generally required but the local environment agency needs to be consulted.

Empty containers and Packaging 

The most practical legal options for farm waste, including empty pesticide containers, is via a professional collection service, either destined for recycling or disposal. It is also possible that your local licensed disposal site may accept such waste. Whichever route you choose, ensure that the proceedure is well documented and that you recieve the appropriate "Waste Transfer Notes".

To effectively manage packaging waste and to reduce possible costs:

• Reduce packaging material
• Clean the packaging - Clean packaging attracts lower disposal costs; Use container rinsing devices or triple rinse; Cleaned containers shuld be placed in a dry secure compound prior to disposal.

Primary Packaging

Empty liquid containers should be thoroughly cleaned and drained and then stored upright. Foil seals and caps should be rinsed but still kept separately in a specific "Hazardous Waste Can" and disposed of separately.

Containers holding dry materials should be throughly emptied and, if practical, "rinsed" and "drained". Paper containers should be folded and placed in a cardboard box, or large paper bag.

Glass, Metal and Aerosols

Check the label for any specific advice from the manufacturer. Where pratical, thoroughly clean containers. Ensure any "Washings" are used or disposed of correctly and do not pose and risk to water; do not puncture aerosols. A licensed waste disposal contractor will be required.

Cardboard Outers and Paper Containers

Avoid contaminating any clean material - keep cardboard and paper outers clean as these will be acceptable for recycling.

Waste from Spills 

Spillages should be cleaned up thoroughly with absorbant material (e.g. cat litter). All contaminated wastes should be treated as unwanted pesticide and sent for professional disposal via a reputable waste disposal contractor.

Water is vulnerable from tiny splahes and spills that occur when filling the sprayer and when rinsing the containers. never wash spilled pesticide in any form into the soakaway, sewer drain, ditch or river. A portable bunded area can help trap spills. The use of either a grass/soil area or a lined biobed can ensure that any pesticides are trapped in a biologically active area. This means, that over time,only spilt product can be degraded by natural processes in the soil.

Unwanted/Unapproved Pesticides 

Any unwanted pesticides that are no longer approved must be disposed of through a registered waste disposal contractor. The latest information on approved products can usually be found at: www.pesticides.gov.uk

Choose the contractor carefully

Recycling and waste disposal contractors offer a range of services and handle a range of different waste materials. Check that your chosen contractor can handle all the materials you wish to dispose of, and that their collection systems fits with your requirements.

The website www.agwasteplastics.org.uk has been set up to identify suitable recycling and waste disposal contractors. The site allows users to search by post code and waste type.

For more detailed information visit the VI website for "Best Practice Guides"

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment at each stage of the process.

The processes involved in carrying out a LERAP are indicated the "decision tree" below 

The answers to questions posed in the decision tree (eg pesticide LERAP category and dose, size and status of watercourse), as well as any decisions taken (eg to use the standard buffer zone rather than carry out a LERAP), must be recorded. Provison is made for this in the spray record sheets we have available to download

Further guidance on assessing the need for using a pesticide, along with much other useful information on the safe and correct use of pesticides, is available in the "Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products"  which is also available from DEFRA publications.

Tank-mixes

For guidance on LERAPs involving tank-mixes click here

How to calculate the LERAP buffer zone applicable to the proposed horizontal boom sprayer operation 

You will have considered three key elements required to establish what reduction in the buffer zone, if any, is applicable for the proposed spray operation: the dose to be applied; the LERAP-Low Drift rating (star rating) of spray equipment being used; and the size of the watercourse in order to calculate the reduction applicable you will need to refer to the tables here.

1. Identify which is the appropriate table. this will depend upon the star rating of the sprayer being used: Standard reference sprayer,  LERAP - Low drift * sprayer, LERAP - Low drift ** sprayer, LERAP - Low drift *** sprayer
2. From the first row of the table, identify which column contains the application rate that you have chosen.
3. From the first column of the table, identify which row contains the range within which the size of the associated watercourse falls.

The box at which the column and row intersect contains the buffer zone requirement which is applicable to the proposed application.

Make a record of the conclusions reached as a results of the LERAP

It is a legal requirement of the LERAP scheme that a written record be kept of each LERAP conducted. Even if users simply decide to apply the standard 5 metre buffer zone, that decision will still need to be recorded. All records of LERAPs that have been conducted must be available for inspection for a period of three years following the spray operation.

Tank-mixes 

• If a tank-mix contains a Category "A" product then the standard 5m (or 1m for a dry ditch) buffer zone always applies.
• Where two or more Category "B" products are tank-mixed, the quailifying dose (ie that used in the LERAP to calculate the required buffer zone) is that of the product which is being applied at the greatest dose relative to the maximum permitted for use. For example, if product "X" at 3/4 dose is to be tank-mixed with product "Y" at 1/4 dose then only the 3/4 dose is used for the LERAP.
• If only one of the products being mixed has a buffer zone requirement, the dose at which that product is applied will be the qualifying dose rate. For example, if product "X" (Category "B") at 1/4 dose is mixed with a 3/4 dose of product "Z" (no buffer zone requirement), then the former (i.e. 1/4) dose is the qualifying dose used in the LERAP.

N.B. Dose of application - where the actual dose being applied falls between those given above, the dose should be rounded up to the nearest stated dose category. 

1: Standard reference sprayer 

2: LERAP - Low drift * sprayer 

3: LERAP- Low drift ** sprayer 

4: LERAP - Low drift *** sprayer 

top of tables  top of page   back to main spray record page

click here to download spray record sheets.

How to complete the spray record sheet.

Click here to download a completed example.

Soil texture '85 system