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Sign up by Aug. 17 for free pesticide disposal in Spokane

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is sponsoring a free pesticide disposal event in Spokane on Sept. 24. The deadline for signing up is Aug. 17.

WSDA encourages farmers, businesses, residents and property owners to inspect their storage sheds, barns, shops and garages and look for agricultural and commercial-grade pesticide products that are no longer needed or wanted. In 2008, WSDA collected more than 127,000 pounds of unwanted pesticides. Nearly 6,000 pounds of unwanted pesticides were collected at last year’s Spokane event.

"This service helps protect our local environment by properly disposing of damaged, unusable or unwanted pesticides," said program coordinator Joe Hoffman. "Proper disposal helps keep our water clean, prevents expensive cleanup projects and protects public health."

Agricultural and commercial-grade pesticide products 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.

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.

WSDA regulates the registration and sale of pesticides. The department also enforces state and federal laws to protect people, property and the environment against the improper use or disposal of pesticides. Through its waste pesticide identification and disposal events, more than 2.2 million pounds of waste pesticide products have been collected and properly disposed of since 1988.

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

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