Agricultural businesses and pesticide applicators in 15 counties can dispose of unwanted pesticides safely and easily in 2017 through the Department of Agriculture’s CHEMSWEEP Program.

The program is offered in different counties each year. In 2017, it will be available in Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Butler, Columbia, Cumberland, Fulton, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Warren and York counties.

“While pesticides are an important tool for many in production agriculture across Pennsylvania, they can be a problem when they outlive their usefulness, sitting in barns and sheds and becoming hazardous to the environment and to your safety,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “With CHEMSWEEP, our agriculture industry can more easily safeguard our land and waterways by properly disposing of pesticides.”

More than 2.4 million pounds of unwanted or unusable pesticides have been properly destroyed through the program since it was established in 1993.

Every year, many pesticide products are discontinued, phased out or become unusable, leaving growers, commercial establishments and professional 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 February 28.

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 Agriculture’s CHEMSWEEP Program website.

[Posted Nov. 29, 2016]

12/5/2016