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Disposal events planned for May 19, 20 and 22
Sign up by March 31 for free pesticide disposal at Wenatchee and Yakima

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) annual pesticide disposal events for the Wenatchee and Yakima areas are scheduled for mid-May. The Yakima event is on May 19-20 and the Wenatchee event is on May 22. Participants are asked to sign up by March 31 for either event.

WSDA is encouraging farmers, businesses, residents and landowners to look in their storage sheds, barns, shops and garages and inspect them for agricultural and commercial-grade pesticides that are no longer needed. WSDA’s collection events are a cost-free and liability-free opportunity to get rid of these potentially hazardous materials.

“This free service helps Washington residents protect their local environment by properly disposing of damaged, unusable and unwanted pesticides,” said program coordinator Joe Hoffman. “Proper disposal helps keep our water clean, prevents expensive cleanups and protects public health. Once a pesticide becomes unusable, it is no longer an asset and becomes a potential liability in the storage shed.”

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 the local collection site where WSDA takes possession. A hazardous waste company works with WSDA at the collection site to segregate and package the pesticides for safe, legal transportation and disposal. WSDA sponsors the program in cooperation with local agencies and businesses.

Through this program, more than two million pounds of waste pesticides have been collected and properly disposed of since 1988. WSDA also regulates the registration, sale and use of pesticides.

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 retained documents. Upon request, WSDA will provide free assistance at a customer’s property to help inventory unwanted pesticides and package leaky containers. To sign up, call (360) 902-2056, (877) 301-4555 (toll free) or send an e-mail to wastepesticide@agr.wa.gov.

Empty pesticide containers, fertilizers, motor oil and household hazardous waste are not accepted for disposal by WSDA’s program. Contact your local solid waste program for assistance with these other items.

For more information, write the Waste Pesticide Program, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42589, Olympia, WA 98504-2589 or visit the WSDA Web site at www.agr.wa.gov and click on “Pesticides and Fertilizers.”
 

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