MANILA, Nov. 19 -- The provincial government has renewed its call for farmers to properly collect and dispose of used fertilizer and pesticide containers to prevent environmental and health risks.

Governor Melchor Diclas said in an interview on Wednesday that agriculture companies are willing to retrieve the empty containers, but farmers must first gather and bring them to designated collection points to make retrieval easier.

Some groups have suggested offering incentives to encourage farmers to collect and consolidate the waste, he added.

"These packaging materials are hazardous waste. They contain pesticide and fertilizer residue, so proper disposal is important for the safety of farmers and the community," Diclas said.

He also sai...