WSJM October 12, 2005 Store/Dispose of Pesticides Properly

This is Al Gaus the Berrien County commercial horticulture educator for fruit and ornamentals reporting from the MSU Extension office in Berrien County.

Fall signals the end of many pest control programs. It is also the time of year when unused pesticides need to be disposed of, or stored properly. One should always consult the pesticide product label for specific storage information.

The best place to store pesticides is in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Make sure all pesticide storage areas are locked. Pesticide storage areas should be located a minimum of 150 feet from any private well and a minimum of 200 feet from surface water. Never store pesticides near food of any kind. Also, make sure to post the storage area as a pesticide storage facility.

Liquid pesticides should be stored in their original container. Most liquids need to be stored in an area that won’t freeze. That is because in addition to the container breaking from the ice, some liquid formulations contain an emulsifying agent that allows the pesticide to be mixed with water. When a liquid pesticide is exposed to freezing temperatures and subsequently freezes, the emulsion "is lost" and the pesticide is usually rendered inactive. Once a single freezing event has occurred, it is usually impossible to remix the pesticide.

Always keep a pesticide in its original container, closed tightly and well labeled. Make every attempt to insure that the label is not lost from the original container. It is very difficult to dispose of unlabeled pesticides and their containers. If the original label has come off, try to put it back on.

An empty pesticide container can be as dangerous as a full one. One should not reuse an empty pesticide container. Most containers of pesticides can be disposed of satisfactorily through trash collection, provided that liquid containers have been triple-rinsed and drained according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. If possible, please try to recycle plastic pesticide containers.

Growers are always practicing safe pesticide use in applications during the summer, so keep practicing safe pesticide use now with proper storage.

That is all for today. This is Al Gaus for Michigan State University Extension in Berrien County.