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Sign up by Sept. 7 for free pesticide disposal at Spokane, Okanogan, Orondo

OLYMPIA –  The state Department of Agriculture is collecting old or unwanted pesticides in mid-October at three Eastern Washington sites, but the deadline to sign up is Sept. 7.

Improper disposal or long term storage of unwanted pesticides can be a threat to human and animal health, harm the natural environment or even saddle a property owner with costly financial liability. For 18 years, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has provided a free disposal program that relieves residents, farmers and business owners of old, unusable or unwanted pesticide products, as well as the liability that can come from leaking containers or improper disposal.

This fall, collection events will be held near Spokane on Oct. 17, Okanogan on Oct. 18, and the Douglas County town of Orondo on Oct. 19. Customer sign up is required by Sept. 7. Agricultural and commercial-grade pesticides accepted for disposal include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides and most chemicals that kill, repel or prevent unwanted pests. Customers transport unwanted pesticides to a local collection site where WSDA takes possession. A hazardous waste contractor packs them for safe, legal transportation and disposal. WSDA sponsors the program in cooperation with local agencies and businesses.

After they sign up for the event, customers will receive supplies necessary to protect broken or leaky containers to ensure safe transportation to the collection site, as well as directions to the site, hours of operation and transportation documents. Customer names do not appear on any manifests or disposal documents. To sign up, call (360) 902-2056, toll free (877) 301-4555 or e-mail wastepesticide@agr.wa.gov.

“This is a free service that helps prevent pesticide contamination of water resources and protects public health,” said program coordinator Joe Hoffman. “We become the owner and are responsible for the pesticides once we take possession of them, which also relieves the customer of any disposal costs or future liability. I encourage everyone to inspect their storage sheds and barns and properly dispose of any unwanted pesticides.”

Empty pesticide containers, fertilizers, motor oil and household hazardous waste are not accepted for disposal by WSDA’s program. Residents can contact their local county solid waste programs or log onto www.earth911.org and enter their zip code to learn where to dispose or recycle these materials.

WSDA has sponsored pesticide collection events since 1988. Through this program, more than 5,600 customers have disposed of nearly 1.9 million pounds of waste pesticides.

For more information, write Waste Pesticide Program, Washington State Department of Agriculture, PO Box 42589, Olympia, WA 98504-2589 or visit WSDA’s pesticide disposal Web site at http://agr.wa.gov/PestFert/Pesticides/WastePesticide.htm.
 

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