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Collection program begins for old, unwanted pesticides

Cleanfarms, a Canadian non-profit organization that manages farm waste, is gearing up to run its 2019 collection program for unwanted pesticides and obsolete livestock/equine medications for farmers who want to dispose of these old materials safely and securely.

Operated on a regional rotating basis, this year Cleanfarms has collection events in the following locations:

• Peace Region of British Columbia and Alberta – six locations – October 16 to 18
• Northern Alberta – 20 locations – October 7 to 11
• Manitoba – 20 locations – October 21 to 25
• Ontario – 28 locations – September 20 to October 1
• Northern Ontario – two locations – September 9 and 20
• Newfoundland – three locations – October 15 to 17

Cleanfarms delivers recycling and disposal solutions that help farmers and their communities safely manage farm waste, including small and large plastic pesticide and fertilizer containers, seed and fertilizer bags, grain bags and twine. Cleanfarms runs the unwanted and old pesticides and livestock/equine medications collection program in provinces or regions of the country every three years at no cost to farmers.

In most cases, collection days are scheduled at local agricultural retailers’ sites and events are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Newfoundland at specific Department of Transportation and Works Depots).

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

• old or unwanted agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
• commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label)
• livestock/equine medications that are used in rearing animals in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number or Pest Control Product number on the label)

The program does not accept:

• fertilizer, diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product, and treated seed
• needles/sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants/sanitizers, veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
• any other household hazardous waste.

The last time Cleanfarms collected in these regions was 2016 when it recovered nearly 279,000 kg of unwanted pesticides and nearly 20,000 kg of livestock and equine medications.

The program is funded by the crop protection industry and the Canadian Animal Health Institute. An environmental stewardship organization, Cleanfarms works collaboratively with industry members, agricultural organizations and associations, and the government to ensure that Canadian farmers have opportunities to manage agricultural waste responsibly.