The Department of Agriculture announced this week that farmers in 17 counties were eligible to participate in the 2005 "CHEMSWEEP" Program, which provides agribusinesses and commercial enterprises as well as citizens with a means to dispose properly of canceled, suspended or unwanted pesticide products.

The following counties are included: Allegheny, Beaver, Cambria, Chester, Clearfield, Columbia, Erie, Fulton, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Warren, Washington and York.

Growers of any agricultural commodity, including mushroom growers, nurseries, greenhouses, Christmas tree growers and farmers of all types are eligible to participate in the program. Pesticide certification is not required. Licensed pesticide applicators in agribusinesses and commercial enterprises from the designated counties are eligible to participate by completing the CHEMSWEEP Application/Registration/Inventory Form, which will be mailed to them in December. Forms are also available at County Extension Offices and at the PDA regional offices.

Homeowners can also participate by taking their unwanted pesticides to Household Hazardous Waste collection sites sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Registration forms and other information for farmers is available on the CHEMSWEEP webpage maintained by Penn State University or by visiting the CHEMSWEEP Program webpage.

Citizens and small businesses can get more information on DEP-sponsored local household hazardous waste collection programs by visiting the DEP-HHW collection program webpage or by calling 1-800-346-4242.

11/12/2004