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Sign up by March 23 for free pesticide disposal at Yakima

Pesticide disposal events planned for May 4 and 5

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is sponsoring a two-day pesticide disposal event in early May in Yakima, but the deadline to sign up is approaching fast.

The event will be held May 4 and May 5 for persons who contact WSDA by March 23.

WSDA is encouraging farmers, businesses, residents and landowners 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. WSDA's waste pesticide program has been very successful in Yakima County, collecting 27,000 pounds of unwanted pesticides last year in the county and more than 40,000 pounds in 2007.

"This free service helps Washington residents protect their 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.

WSDA regulates the registration, sale and use of pesticides. Through the agency's waste pesticide program, more than 2.1 million pounds of pesticide products have been collected and properly disposed of since 1988. Among the pesticides collected are herbicides such as 2,4-D, clopyralid and dinoseb; insecticides such as diazinon, malathion and DDT; and fungicides such as sulfur and captan.

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.

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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