EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS REVIEW

Abstract

The increasing use of pesticides in modern agriculture has resulted in the generation of large amounts of hazardous waste, particularly in the form of empty pesticide containers (EPC). Improper management of these containers poses significant risks to human health and the environment. This study presents a systematic literature review of EPC management, based on 17 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, covering the period 2000–2025. The review analyzes research trends, methodological approaches, and thematic focus areas within the existing literature. The findings reveal a strong dominance of behavioral studies, which account for more than half of the publications, primarily focusing on farmers’ disposal practices, awareness, and reuse behavior. In contrast, technical, logistical, and policy-oriented studies remain limited, highlighting significant research gaps. The results also indicate a sharp increase in publications after 2020, suggesting growing global attention to EPC management within the context of sustainability and circular economy. The study concludes that more integrated, interdisciplinary research is needed, particularly in the areas of governance, system design, and environmental risk assessment, to support the development of effective and sustainable solutions for pesticide container management.