MEDIA ADVISORY

Contact: Corrie Bowen – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
cbowen@ag.tamu.edu – 979-532-3310

 Unwanted Agricultural Surplus pesticides? Dispose of them properly!

Unused pesticides lurking in barns and outbuildings are hazardous to people, pets and the environment.

Currently, there is no organized collection activity to allow Texans to responsibly dispose of their unwanted agricultural pesticide waste. This has caused many Texans to accumulate unwanted pesticides under unsafe storage conditions and has possibly caused some to consider illegal disposal options. The improper disposal of agricultural pesticide waste poses a serious risk to surface and groundwater, wildlife habitat, and other areas of the environment.

However, agricultural pesticide waste collection events provide a safe and legal method for disposing of agricultural pesticides and containers.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is facilitating an “Agricultural Waste Pesticide Collection Event”, Wednesday, November 28th at the Wharton County Fairgrounds near Wharton, Texas, located at 6036 FM 961 Road.  The collection will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and is open to all TDA licensed agricultural Private Applicators in Wharton and surrounding counties.

This free collection, conducted rain or shine, will give agricultural producers who use pesticides in Texas an opportunity to dispose of unwanted products that may pose a hazard to them, their families, and their communities.

The following items will be accepted:

• outdated, discontinued or unwanted agricultural pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, rodenticides, nematicides, and growth regulators
• empty, triple-rinsed plastic pesticide containers
• empty or partial metal drums

PESTICIDES MUST BE KEPT IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTAINERS, EVEN IF THE LABEL IS NOT PRESENT

Unknown pesticides will be sampled and identified on site.

Do NOT bring:

• explosive ordnances and ammunition
• petroleum-based products
• paints
• medical wastes
• radioactive substances
• household pesticides and chemicals
• tires
• fertilizers, propane or butane cylinders
• dioxins
• 2,4-5T
• chlorinated Hydrocarbons (chlordane, aldrin, dieldrin, and heptachlor)
• fumigant canisters
• Used motor oil and other automobile fluids
• Used motor oil filters
• Auto batteries

• Household hazardous waste such as paints, thinners, antifreeze, aerosol cans, mercury thermometers, photographic chemicals, herbicides and cleaners, petroleum products, antifreeze, and fluorescent bulbs
• Empty bulk containers

Contact the Wharton County Extension Office at 979-532-3310 to inquire about any special requests for assistance.

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Corrie Bowen, MS
County Extension Agent – Agriculture
Wharton County
315 E. Milam, Suite 112
Wharton, Texas 77488
(979) 532-3310