08/02/06 Pesticide Disposal Program

Free Pesticide Disposal. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. As several producers are finishing up their crops, it's time to start thinking about cleaning up and getting ready for next year. The state Department of Agriculture is helping out by collecting old or unwanted pesticides during September at three Eastern Washington sites, but the deadline to sign up is Aug. 9. Joe Hoffman Program Coordinator for the Waste Pesticide Disposal Program say this is a free program. HOFFMAN: First of all, proper disposal since most of them are hazardous wastes upon disposal is a fairly expensive and fairly technical endeavor. A lot of these materials were just kept in storage by people that had them. In most cases due to either the volume or toxicity, they're not eligible at a local household hazardous waste program so we're coming in to help fit the bill to help people get rid of these at no charge. Hoffman says the Department of Ag will take almost all pesticides. HOFFMAN: Right now we can take pretty much all pesticides. The only restrictions we have and by the end of the year we are hoping those are gone, right now we do not have anyplace in the United States to dispose of 245T, Silvex and Pentachlorophenol. Other than that we can take pretty much any pesticide, dry or liquid. For more information, log onto the Washington Department of Ag's website at www.agr.wa.gov. Tomorrow, more on the Pesticide Disposal Program. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.