Whether you’re taking care of your home lawn or the landscaping for a commercial property, chances are there will be time when using pesticides is necessary. Once the pest problem is eradicated though, some thought and care needs to go into how to safely dispose of these toxic chemicals.  The following are a few tips from the EPA:

1) Not overbuying the amount of pesticide will help in ensuring that you only have and use the full amount needed to eliminate the pest problem. However, if you do have some of the substance left over, check with neighbors – they may be having a similar problem and could use it!

2) If you have leftover chemicals that cannot be put to use, contact your local transfer station, environmental agency, or community health office to see if any special hazardous waste collection dates are scheduled for your area. Local government can also provide you with the regulations for proper pesticide disposal.

3) Reading up on pesticide regulations on the EPA’s website is always helpful but don’t forget that local and state regulations may be more stringent that the federal ones. Be sure to follow the most restrictive regulation so you don’t incur any fines or citations.

4) If you have used all of the chemical but still have the container, read the labeling carefully for any instructions on how to dispose of it properly. If there aren’t any disposal directions consider it safe to consider it waste or recycling material.

5) Never pour leftover chemicals into a sink, toilet, or street drain. Most sewer systems are not equipped to sufficiently remove hazardous chemicals from pesticides from the waste stream and can go on to contaminate waterways.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Pesticides are designed to eliminate a pest problem. Those same chemicals can create a human health and environmental problem if not used and disposed of properly!