A Look At Montana's Pesticide Waste Disposal Program
2019 Winterby Carli Davis
Montana Department of Agriculture
Are you one of those individuals who saves items thinking to use them at a later date but never do? Saving that last little bit of an herbicide thinking it will come in handy later? Or, do you have containers that are unlabeled, and you have no idea what they are or how to get rid of them?
In 1994, the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) created a pesticide waste disposal program to offer an environmentally responsible way to dispose of waste pesticides to avoid harm to human health, families, pets, livestock, and drinking water. The disposal program is a non-regulatory service program that keeps pesticide waste out of Montana’s landfills and offers pesticide users the opportunity to dispose of unwanted and unusable pesticides in a safe way so there are no penalties. The legislation authorizing the collection program was sponsored by Montana's agricultural industry and is funded, in part, by license fees that private, commercial, and government pesticide applicators and pesticide dealers pay to become licensed.
What is considered a pesticide?
The Environmental Protection Agency defines a pesticide as any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest, or intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or dessicant. Examples of pesticides include herbicides (e.g., 2,4-D or glyphosate), insecticides (e.g., pyrethrum or imidacloprid) and fungicides (e.g., sulfur or copper).
Since 1994, more than 638,600 pounds of waste pesticide have been collected from more than 1,700 participants. Amounts collected have ranged from one pound to over 7,000 pounds. Common pesticides that have been brought to collection events include insecticides such as DDT, chlordane, and pentachlorophenol and herbicides like 2,4-D and glyphosate. Strychnine has been the primary rodenticide collected. Any pesticide, pesticide mixes, and unknown pesticides are accepted into the program. The program will not accept other hazardous waste such as used oils, paints, antifreeze, etc.
What is pesticide waste?
Any pesticide that is unusable as originally intended is considered waste. Pesticides become unusable when they have become contaminated, if the registration has been canceled, or if the labels were lost or have become unreadable. If you have unwanted pesticide products, store them safely and dispose of them as soon as possible. Dispose of pesticides as instructed on the product label under the "Storage and Disposal" statement. If any product remains in the container it must be disposed of as hazardous waste. If you have pesticide waste, keep the pesticide in its original container with the labels attached. Always store it safely until it can be properly disposed of. A pesticide that can no longer be used must be disposed in a way that protects human health and the environment. Proper disposal of pesticides can prevent accidents to human health and the environment and the longer a pesticide is held in storage, the greater the risk of accidental environmental damage. Old pesticides or pesticides that are stored improperly can expose children, livestock or pets to serious injury or even death. Containers may corrode, causing pesticides to leak. Fire or flooding may cause a pesticide release that can contaminate air, soil and water, resulting in costly cleanup.
How to participate
The Pesticide Waste Disposal Program is held annually in September. Montana is divided into three sections consisting of a western, central, and eastern district. Four or five collection sites are chosen, alternating in each of Montana’s three waste pesticide disposal districts. Publicity for each event precedes collections in each district. For example, the disposal events will be located in the western district in 2020, the central district in 2021, and in the eastern district in 2022. Participants are not limited to the district they reside in. Any participant can come to any event depending on how far they want to travel.
Participants must pre-register their unusable pesticide with the MDA before the collection event so the collection can be managed safely and efficiently. Pre-register online at https://agr.mt.gov/Pesticide-Waste-Disposal-Registration or contact Carli Davis at (406) 465-0531 or e-mail carli.davis@mt.gov. Acceptance into the program is on a first-come, first-served basis and early registration is encouraged. Cost for participating is substantially lower than costs incurred through other disposal options. The cost of disposal is based on the weight of the waste pesticide and its container. Fees that are collected help pay for the program. The first 200 pounds per registrant are free and cost is $1 per pound after that.
Follow these safety precautions when transporting pesticides:
- Place pesticide containers in a position so they won't shift or spill.
- Line the transport area of a vehicle or provide a secondary containment (e.g., storage bin). This reduces the chance of a spill in case of an accident.
- Cover and secure the load if hauling in a vehicle with an open back.
- Do not transport pesticides in the passenger section of a vehicle.
- Keep pesticides away from groceries and food for animals.
- Go straight to the disposal location. Drive slowly and carefully.