Agricultural News
Three Dates Set in March for Free Pesticide Disposal in Oklahoma
Sun, 21 Feb 2010 6:44:17 CST
Unwanted pesticides can be taken to any one of three locations in March for free, safe disposal. Even pesticides that are no longer legal may be disposed of at no charge and with no risk of penalty or fine. The locations and dates are as follows: Helena Chemical 310 East Jensen, El Reno, March 2; Angus Valley Equipment, 3/4 mile east of the Hwy 56 & Hwy 9 intersection on Hwy 9, Wewoka, March 4; and the Red River Coop, 100 Yerby Street Hugo. Click here for a flyer that has more details about the three March 2010 locations.
The Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program is funded through the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and is a cooperative effort of that agency, the Oklahoma State University Extension Service's Pesticide Safety Education Program and the Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association. This program provides a safe and economical way to dispose of the cancelled, suspended, expired, unwanted, unused and unstable pesticides, said Jason Baker, ODAFF Consumer Protection Services. Some of these materials are very old and are in containers that are deteriorating.
Some, such as chlordane, DDT, and mercury-based pesticides are so toxic to humans and hazardous to the environment that they are no longer allowed to be used, he said. Possession of these chemicals is not against the law, but using them or disposing of them improperly can result in violating state and federal pesticide laws.
The state contracts with Clean Harbors, a licensed hazardous waste company to collect and dispose of the unwanted pesticides. While there is no cost for disposing of pesticides in amounts of less than 2,500 pounds, a charge of $1 per pound is charged for amounts of more than 2,500 pounds and a charge of $2.22 per pound is assessed for mercury based pesticides.
Since 2006 the program has collected and disposed of 469,778 pounds of unwanted pesticides. Jason Baker can be reached at (405) 522-5993 for more information. You can also call Charles Luper OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program at 405-744-5808.
Click here for the complete Q&A about the Pesticide Disposal Program.
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