Waste pesticide container collecting, recycling and disposal has been set up.

 Professional associations representing pesticide companies and distributors (cooperatives and retailers) set up a joint structure on July 4, 2001 called ADIVALOR. It will be in charge of the organisation, development and operating activities of this chain. Professional farming organisations will soon take a stake in the capital of this new company.

ADIVALOR will firstly restrict itself to Empty Pesticide Containers (EPC) and to Unused Pesticides (UP).

 Objectives are : 

	operate a viable recycling chain for EPC's starting in 2001 already.
	set up a waste disposal programme concerning the last 4 years of accumulated stock of UP's (estimated at 8.000 tonnes today), before setting up a sustainable chain.
	progressively set up a sustainable way to collect "renewed" UP's.

 Financial ressources will primarily be provided by pesticide companies through a specific contribution which will be collected by COVADA, a company which is the main shareholder of ADIVALOR.
Durable financial support from the government has been asked for during the starting period of the programme and for supporting the waste disposal programme for accumulated UP's.

 Besides these practical aspects, the structure also aims to set up a " research and development " activity.
It will have a scientific committee, which is currently being set up, which will include several experts in fields close to ADIVALOR's business . This committee will be asked to give advice, in particular to validate specifications proposed by the industry.