What Africa Can Learn From Zambia’s Empty Pesticide Container Management

Across the Africa Middle East region, an often-overlooked challenge exists in the background of food production. After pesticides are used, their empty containers do not simply disappear. Without proper collection and disposal, they are often discarded in the environment, posing serious risks to human health and ecosystems. Countries like Zambia have introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks, but implementation gaps remain. Strengthening on-the-ground container management initiatives offers lessons for countries building effective, sustainable systems.

Protecting people and crops

In the farming communities of Chongwe District, just outside Lusaka, a quiet but important shift is taking place. Farmers now gather at a newly established aggregation hub carrying empty pesticide containers that once posed a serious environmental and health risk. Instead of burning them, burying them or discarding them along field edges, the containers are triple rinsed, punctured, collected and prepared for recycling.

Among those delivering containers one recent morning was Mr. Makoza Tembo, a small-scale tomato farmer who has cultivated the same land for more than two decades. For years, he said, empty pesticide containers were a constant dilemma. “With no system to properly dispose of them, we often burned them or threw them away,” he recalled. “Sometimes people reused them at home. We knew it was not safe, but we didn’t have another option.” His experience reflects a wider challenge faced by farming communities across Africa.

Crop protection products play a vital role in helping farmers safeguard their harvests and secure their livelihoods. Yet, the management of empty pesticide containers, an essential part of pesticide lifecycle stewardship, often receives far less attention. When empty pesticide containers are improperly handled or disposed of, the consequences can be severe. Even after use, containers often retain chemical residues that can contaminate soil and water sources, posing risks to the environment and human health. Burning these containers releases toxic fumes into the air, while in some cases they are reused domestically to store water or food, exposing families to health risk. 

Additionally, poorly discarded containers may find their way back into informal markets, contributing to the illegal trade and misuse of pesticides. Responsible agriculture therefore does not end when the last drop of pesticide is sprayed. It continues with how containers are handled, collected and safely recycled or disposed of.

Collaborating to address the challenge

Through initiatives led by CropLife Zambia and its partners, practical systems are being established to manage empty pesticide containers responsibly. One of the most promising approaches is the

development of container aggregation hubs in farming districts such as Chongwe and Mkushi. These hubs act as collection points where farmers bring triple-rinsed containers that can then be processed for recycling. In 2024 alone, the initiative cleared a significant backlog and processed more than 10 tons of plastic waste, turning what was once an environmental liability into a reusable resource. The experience in Zambia is not only locally significant, but it also offers a practical model for other African countries facing similar challenges. With the continued expansion of aggregation hubs in Chongwe and Mkushi and upcoming developments such as the Mazabuka aggregation hub, the approach demonstrates how container management systems can scale through collaboration with value chain actors across different regions. This growing network highlights how coordinated efforts between growers, agro-dealers, industry and government can create a replicable system adaptable to other national contexts. But infrastructure alone is not enough.

Education and farmer engagement for successful stewardship

Education and farmer engagement remain central to successful stewardship. Through training programmes, farmers are learning the importance of triple-rinsing containers; a simple process of rinsing containers three times immediately after use to remove residual chemicals. This step is critical as it reduces contamination up to 99.9 per cent, makes containers safe for handling and enables their recycling. Farmers are also trained on safe pesticide handling and proper preparation of containers for collection.

In Chongwe District alone, more than 443 farmers were trained in 2025, helping them adopt safer practices that protect their farms, families, and communities. Agro-dealers also play a critical role in this system. A study conducted in Zambia shows that over 77 per cent of small-scale farmers rely on agro-dealers for advice on pesticide use. This makes agro-dealers important influencers in promoting responsible handling and disposal practices. Strengthening their training can ensure that stewardship messages reach farmers directly at the point of purchase.

By turning agricultural plastic waste into farm inputs, container management programmes can help reduce environmental pollution while also supporting climate-smart farming practices. However, expanding these efforts will require stronger collaboration. Governments, industry, farmers, recyclers, and development partners must work together to scale container management systems across more districts. Investment is needed to establish additional aggregation hubs, strengthen collection logistics, and support recycling industries capable of processing agricultural plastics. Equally important are policies that promote safe pesticide lifecycle management, from responsible use to proper disposal. Strengthening the implementation of existing legal frameworks such as EPR will be critical to ensuring long-term sustainability.

Committing to responsible agriculture

The work underway in Zambia demonstrates that stewardship is not just about regulation and compliance. It is about building agricultural systems that protect both productivity and the environment. Farmers are the first stewards of the land. When they are given the tools and knowledge to manage pesticide containers responsibly, they help safeguard the soil, water, and communities that agriculture depends upon. The empty containers now arriving at aggregation hubs in Chongwe and Mkushi represent more than discarded plastic. They reflect a growing commitment to responsible agriculture and a future where productivity and environmental protection go hand in hand.

Looking ahead, there is a clear opportunity to build on Zambia’s progress and scale impact across the region. With the right legal frameworks, decision-makers can ensure that farmers, agro-dealers and industry are properly incentivised to adopt safe practices, making effective empty pesticide container management a standard. With agriculture continuing to grow across Africa, the need for effective pesticide lifecycle management will only become more urgent. By investing in practical systems and learning from emerging models like Zambia’s, countries can turn a persistent environmental challenge into an opportunity for safer, more sustainable agriculture.