August 25, 2006

Waste pesticide and PCB collections at seven sites in September

Collection dates and sites All sites open 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 19, Farmers Co-op Elevator Co., 601 South County Rd., Plymouth Sept. 20, Consumers Service Co., 150 N. Blaine Ave. and E. Hwy 6, Hastings Sept. 21, United Farmers Co-op, 1403 Road 14, York Sept. 22, Wal-Mart parking lot, 3010 E. 23rd Ave., Fremont. Sept. 25, Agricultural Park, 822 15th St., Columbus Sept. 26, Central Valley Ag, North McClelland St., Fullerton Sept. 27, Madison County Weed Control, 3203 S. 12th St., Norfolk

The September collections were added since several locations that had previously agreed to do collections had to cancel because of heavy late season snows. This fall collection gives those sites and several others an opportunity to collect and dispose of waste pesticides and PCBs since they couldn’t participate in the normal spring collections.

Since the program began, more than 2.2 million pounds, or 1,100 tons, of unwanted pesticide products have been collected from across Nebraska. Of that total, more than four tons have been electrical transformers.

All pesticides except those in pressurized cylinders are accepted for disposal. This includes herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, as well as all types of agricultural, livestock, home, lawn and garden, and structural and commercial pesticides, including those in aerosol containers.

Farmers and ranchers also may dispose of old electrical transformers from irrigation systems, many of which contain PCBs which have been linked to certain cancers and other health risks. Collection sites will not accept oil, antifreeze, paint, varnish, thinners, cleaners, solvents or pesticide products in pressurized cylinders.

There is no charge for quantities of pesticides up to 1,000 pounds. Anyone who anticipates turning in more than a half ton of waste products should notify Rich Reiman at the NDA by phoning (402) 471-2394. There will be a fee of $1 per pound for each pound over 1,000 pounds.

Collected pesticides and transformers are disposed of by Clean Harbors, which operates a disposal facility near Kimball.

Tips for preparing containers

People turning in pesticides or transformers should:

1. Leave pesticide labels on containers.
2. Handle containers with chemical resistant gloves and in a way to prevent them from spilling.
3. Wash hands with soap and water after handling.
4. Take pesticide materials in for identification and disposal if containers' labels have been removed or are not legible.
5. Transport smaller quantities of pesticides in fragile containers in a plastic bucket or other container that will contain the pesticide if it begins leaking.
6. Do not transport pesticides in the passenger compartment of vehicles.

For more information