Agricultural businesses and pesticide applicators in 21 counties can dispose of unwanted pesticides safely and easily in 2013 through the Department of Agriculture’s CHEMSWEEP program.

The program is offered in different counties each year. In 2013 it will be available in Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Columbia, Cumberland, Delaware, Lackawanna, Lawrence, Luzerne, McKean, Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Union, Warren and York counties.

“CHEMSWEEP provides a safe, legal way to dispose of unwanted pesticides,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. “For 20 years, the program has helped our agriculture industry properly dispose of more than two million pounds of unwanted or unusable pesticides, helping to safeguard our environment.”

Every year, many pesticide products are discontinued, phased out or become unusable, leaving growers, commercial establishments and applicators with potentially dangerous and toxic materials that cannot be placed in landfills. The unwanted pesticides often become a safety hazard and an environmental concern through long-term storage in garages, barns or other areas.

Licensed pesticide applicators, pesticide dealers and commercial pesticide application businesses from the designated counties are eligible to participate by completing the CHEMSWEEP registration/inventory form that will be direct-mailed. The registration period ends March 31.

An independent contractor hired by the state agriculture department collects and packages all waste pesticides at each participating location, primarily for incineration at facilities approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

CHEMSWEEP covers the disposal cost for the first 2,000 pounds per participant. Above that level, participants are billed at the agriculture department’s contracted price.

The program is funded through annual registration fees paid by pesticide manufacturers and applicators.

For more information, visit the CHEMSWEEP webpage.

12/3/2012