Promoting the collection and disposal of empty agrochemical containers for more than 17 years
Campo Limpio is a non-profit responsible management programme funded by twenty agrochemical companies that have been in action for more than 17 years. Today there are 18 Campo Limpio projects in as many Latin American countries that educate communities.
In Colombia, the scheme focuses on promoting the adequate collection and disposal of empty agrochemical containers in order to protect the environment and the health of local communities.
Although Campo Limpio has been present in Colombia since 1998 as a part of the National Business Association of Colombia, it only became an independent programme in 2008. It covers almost half of the municipalities in Colombia and has signed agreements with 24 farming unions.
Campo Limpio has sent representatives to remote areas of Colombia to educate farmers about the possible dangers of agrochemical containers. They are trained in the triple wash technique and the importance of collecting and returning used cans to specific collection centres that have been built.
85% of the containers that have been collected since 2008 have been converted into plastic timber, which has been used to construct bridges in isolated areas, improving residents’ quality of life. They have also been used to build collection centres for the agrochemical containers to be stored in.
Since 2008, Campo Limpio has been responsible for the collection of 2.2 million agrochemical containers and has trained more than 25,000 people. Their latest agreement to be signed is with the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia and aims to collect one million cans that have been used in the fight against Roya – a disease that affects the coffee plant. The recovered containers will be used to build a bridge in Gramalote, an area heavily affected by the cold winter spell.