Brasília, April 15, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Brazil continues to break records in the retrieval of empty pesticide containers, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. In the first three months of this year alone, the National Institute for the Processing of Empty Containers (Impev) collected approximately 3.8 thousand tons of material, as much as in the entire year of 2002. In March over 1.5 thousand tons of empty pesticide containers were removed from the environment.

In 2004 the Inpev will spent US$ 9.262 million (R$ 27 million) on container retrieval. This includes the construction of storage sheds in the countryside, logistics costs, technological development, and educational campaigns directed at rural producers.

Five more central collection stations for containers will be installed between April and May of this year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, when the project began in March, 2002, the institute counted on 33 central collection stations and one receiving site in the country. At the end of 2003 it had 230 units - 100 central collection stations and 130 receiving sites. The forecast for 2004 is to reach 400 units, responsible for the creation of around 3 thousand direct jobs.

Translator: David Silberstein