The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is stepping up efforts to help Minnesota farmers and households to safely dispose of unwanted and unusable pesticides through the Waste Pesticide Collection Program. The program provides an environmentally sound option to dispose of unusable and unwanted pesticides.

Through the Waste Pesticide Collection program, pesticide users in every county around the state will have opportunities to dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides once every other year and household pesticide products at least once a year.

Environmental Stewardship is Good for Everyone!

There are many hazardous characteristics associated with waste pesticides. These characteristics pose potential dangers to public health and the environment. Disposing of unusable pesticides eliminates the potential dangerous materials. Since 1990 more than 4.6 million pounds of waste pesticides have been collected and disposed of through the MDA sponsored programs. Waste pesticides collected in Minnesota are destroyed at an out of state incinerator that was specifically designed to destroy hazardous waste materials.

• Pesticides are products containing chemicals that control pests. Pesticides support the production of a safe and abundant supply of food, fuel and fiber by offering protection from insects, rodents, weeds and plant diseases.
• Pesticides are hazardous to targeted pests. Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and disinfectants are the most common pesticides, but there are more.
• Proper use of pesticides minimizes the risk to non-targeted species and assures the safety of humans, as well as protection of land and water resources.
• Frequently, farmers, small businesses and homeowners end up with waste pesticides – pesticides at the end of their usable life.

Pesticides become unusable when:

• They undergo a physical change due to freezing and thawing or age.
• The pesticide is banned from use because of state or federal restrictions (i.e. DDT).
• The label – directions for use - on the pesticide container becomes unreadable or fall off and become lost.
• The pesticide becomes unwanted when no longer needed (i.e. moved, purchased too much).

Unusable and unwanted pesticides must be disposed of according to the label directions.
It is illegal to bury, or burn a pesticide.

What is the risk?

The longer you store a pesticide that you no longer use the more likely…

• the container will deteriorate and release the contents.
• the product label will become detached, lost or unreadable. The result is the container contents can no longer be identified.
• someone unaware of the dangers may accidentally knock over, handle or open a pesticide container and become exposed to harmful chemicals.
• the location and contents of the stored pesticides may be forgotten.

Safe Handling & Transport of Waste Pesticides

• If the pesticide container appears unsound (rust, water damage, fatigue) place the pesticide container into a larger container (pail, barrel, bag, etc) for safe transport. Wear chemical resistant gloves when handling unsound containers.
• Secure the waste pesticide containers in your vehicle to prevent container breakage, tipping or spilling while transporting.
• Ensure that the container has a cover or lid to prevent splashing while starting and stopping during the drive.
• Do not transport waste pesticide in the passenger potion of a vehicle.
• The Hazardous Waste Contractor will unload the waste pesticide from your vehicle at the waste pesticide collection site.

Participants are responsible for their waste pesticides – including accidental spills - until delivered to the collection site.