BUTLER, Pa. — For many, crop management includes the use of a variety of crop protection products that help to control weeds, insects, and diseases that reduce yields and diminish returns. The products used are an important part of the crop production process but what happens to leftover, outdated, and discontinued products?
CHEMSWEEP
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) offers a program called CHEMSWEEP to assist in the disposal of pesticide products. Offered in select counties on an annual basis, the program provides an opportunity to dispose of canceled, suspended, or unwanted pesticide products.
Growers of any agricultural commodity are eligible to participate along with commercial pesticide businesses and retired farmers.
Collection. Butler County is one of the counties designated for collection in 2013. To participate, producers and other individuals need to complete a registration and inventory form that is submitted to the PA Department of Agriculture.
Deadline
The deadline for registering for the program is March 31. Applications and additional information can be obtained by doing a search for CHEMSWEEP on PA Department of Agriculture’s home page at http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us.
Applications are also available from the regional office of PDA at 724-443-1585 or from the Butler County Extension Office at 724-287-4761 extension 222.
After the applications have been received, the information will be verified and program participants will be contacted with instructions for delivering the unwanted pesticides to a central collection site or the pesticides will be collected on site by a hazardous waste disposal contractor.
