The event, held by the WSDA Waste Pesticide Program, took place in Spokane and collected nearly 25,000 pounds of unwanted insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and rodenticides, including more than 1,000 pounds of the highly persistent insecticide DDT, banned for use in the U.S. 43 years ago.

“Farmers should regularly look in their storage sheds and barns for any pesticides they no longer use or want and contact WSDA to arrange for them to be disposed,” Joe Hoffman, WSDA’s waste pesticide coordinator, says. “Proper disposal prevents future problems such as leaks that may contaminate the soil and drinking water or accidental exposure to these old products by people or animals. Some of these old pesticides are highly toxic, and you do not want to wait for an accident to happen.”

DDT and other obsolete pesticides are still found on some properties. WSDA’s collection program is free and provides an easy way for farmers, ranchers, public agencies, institutions and others to get rid of their unwanted agricultural or commercial-grade pesticides.

Last week’s event drew 32 customers from five eastern Washington counties. One of them also brought in the 3 millionth pound of pesticides WSDA has collected since the Waste Pesticide Program began in 1988.

WSDA holds waste pesticide collection events around the state based upon customer demand. The state’s hazardous waste contractor, Clean Harbors, transports and disposes of the pesticides at licensed facilities that destroy the chemicals.  FG

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—From Washington State Department of Agriculture news release