Department of Agriculture
Ken Givens, Commissioner

WHY COLLECT PESTICIDE WASTE?

The intelligent use of pesticides has helped make the United States the world's number one producer of food and fiber.  Ideally pesticides are stored safely on the farm until they are completely used.  However, many remain unused because cropping practices change, new products are introduced, some chemicals are banned and others deteriorate or lose their label.    Such chemicals pose a threat to human health, livestock, and the environment--especially our rivers, lakes and groundwater.

THE PROGRAM:

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with TVA, EPA, the U.T. Agricultural Extension Service, and others, has initiated the Tennessee Agricultural Pesticide Waste Collection Program as part of Tennessee's State Management Plan for Protection of Groundwater From Pesticides.

The waste collection program, which will run for seven years, started in spring 1998 in targeted counties across the state.  The counties were selected based on their high sale and usage rates.  More than 100,000 pounds of pesticide wastes were collected in the first year.  There will be opportunities for every farmer in Tennessee to participate as collection events are held across the state.  A fully trained Department of Agriculture representative will be present, and a commercial, licensed pesticide disposal company will be on hand to receive chemical wastes safely. 

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

Farmers bringing pesticide wastes to designated collection sites for disposal will remain anonymous and will not have to pay a fee for collection or disposal.  All Tennessee farmers are eligible to participate.  Commercial and industrial entities may also participate, however they must pay the cost of disposal and make arrangements with the disposal contractor prior to the event.

All agricultural pesticides brought to the designated collection sites by that county's farmers will be accepted up to 1000 pounds per farmer/vehicle.  Greater amounts will be accepted if prior notice is given to and approved by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture collection site manager or the county extension agent.   Both known and unknown pesticide wastes will be accepted, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides; and other products such as defoliants and growth retardants.

Products other than pesticides will not be accepted at the collection sites.  Specific materials that will not be accepted include, but are not limited to: explosives or ordinance materials, petroleum products, paints, medical wastes, radioactive materials, dioxin precursors, seeds, surfactants, etc.  Farmers with questions regarding acceptance of a specific material should contact the collection site manager or the local county extension agent prior to the collection event.

Empty pesticide containers will not be accepted.  The Tennessee Department of Agriculture already has an existing program to recover empty pesticide containers, and information will be available at the pesticide collection sites and in media announcements.

All pesticide wastes accepted must be taken directly from the vehicles by authorized personnel.   Once farmers enter their vehicles onto the collection site, exchange of materials between vehicles will be prohibited. 

Farmers are responsible for safely transporting pesticide wastes to the collection sites, and for any spillage, damage, subsequent cleanup, and restoration that might result from spillage in transporting the wastes to the collection site.  Overpack materials will be available and provided free of charge to farmers for overpacking any leaking pesticide containers to ensure safe transport to the collection site.  The overpack materials will be available 15 days before collection day through the local county extension agent.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Discuss the Pesticide Waste Collection Program with your neighboring farmers and encourage their participation.  Help us spread the message about the program and its value through friends, farm and community organizations, and agribusiness associates.  Getting started is the hardest part, but the rewards of the collection effort will be great, and will extend to future generations.

AG. PESTICIDE WASTE COLLECTION EVENT SCHEDULE:

For more information regarding times, locations, or other county events, visit the Conservation and Environment Household Hazardous Waste page at: http://tn.gov/environment/swm/hhw/hazcoll.shtml or call Paula Mitchell at (615) 532-9265.