Development of educational materials for triple rinse and disposal of pesticide containers in developing countries

Risks associated with exposure to pesticides from unrinsed or poorly rinsed containers are still very real in many parts of the world. In some places, any empty container has value. As a result, pesticide containers are often reused, despite the fact that this practice has serious consequences. Reports of illness associated with reuse of containers—and handling and improper disposal of unrinsed or poorly rinsed containers—continue to appear. In addition, inappropriate disposal can result in contamination of precious resources such as drinking water. As a result, there is an overall need for pesticide safety programs in developing countries—and specifically for program support materials to educate people on the need for triple rinsing and rendering pesticide containers unusable before disposal. We are developing “basic” instructions for proper handling of pesticide containers—triple rinsing, destruction, and proper disposal—for audiences in countries where conditions and facilities may be rudimentary.