The MDA collects, by special events or through county cooperation, over a half million pounds of waste pesticides in Minnesota every year. The large majority of waste pesticides collected comes from households.
The Waste Pesticide Collection program pays the costs of disposal, and is funded from a surcharge on pesticide products sold in the state. Here are a few considerations regarding unwanted pesticides:
- Pesticides have a long shelf life when stored properly. Products like Roundup® work even after freezing (freezes at -20°).
- If the pesticide is still good, offer it to family, friends or your neighbors.
- Be mindful when you purchase pesticides and consider the volume to ensure you don’t buy more than you need. Can you use up the small amount left on the bottom of the package?
When purchasing pesticides:
- Don’t purchase more than is needed.
- Two for the price of one is no deal if one is unused and becomes a disposal liability.
- Size matters! Will you be able to use all the product up when targeting the pest? Is the smaller package more in line with the task?
If a pesticide is no longer usable, bring it to your HHW facility for disposal. Proper treatment of hazardous waste is important but minimizing the waste should be everybody’s goal.
