Pesticide disposal program set in Pa.

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Agricultural businesses and residents of 18 Pennsylvania counties can safely and easily dispose of unwanted pesticides through the CHEMSWEEP Program, according to Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff.
Eligible counties. During 2007, the free program will be offered in Armstrong, Chester, Clarion, Clearfield, Dauphin, Forest, Huntingdon, Indiana, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Snyder, Somerset, Susquehanna, Union, Venango, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
CHEMSWEEP helps to protect Pennsylvania’s environment, providing a safe, free and legal way to dispose of unwanted pesticides. Since 1992, the program has helped dispose of more than 1.6 million pounds of pesticides, serving our agricultural industry and homeowners while preserving our ecosystem.
Licensed pesticide applicators in agribusinesses and commercial enterprises from the designated counties are eligible to participate by completing the CHEMSWEEP registration/inventory form.
Cost. Participation in the program is free for the first 2,000 pounds. Participants with waste pesticides exceeding 2,000 pounds will be responsible for the additional cost and will be billed by the contractor.
An independent contractor hired by the Department of Agriculture collects and packages all waste pesticides primarily for incineration at EPA-approved facilities.