NC Commissioner Steve Troxler: Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program Passes Milestone

Posted on Posted in Daily Ag Summary, Featured Stories, NC Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler, Top Ag Headlines

On the heels of Earth Day celebrations, the NCDA&CS Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program has collected more than 4 million pounds of unused and unwanted pesticides. The program ensures these products are disposed of in a responsible and appropriate way.

Commissioner Troxler:

  • I’m gonna take a break from COVID-19 this week. Rest assured the department is still very actively engaged on the subject, but I thought I would talk about another important program this week – our Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program.
  • You know we just celebrated Earth Day last week and it seems fitting that the program recently passed a milestone having collected more than 4 million pounds of unwanted and unused pesticides since it began in 1980.
  • I’d say that is a ton of pesticides, but technically I’d be wrong. It’s two thousand tons of pesticides.
  • Collection days are typically held in every county every other year. By alternating counties, farmers and homeowners can count on a collection day in their county or an adjacent county every six to eight months.
  • We know people want to dispose of these chemicals properly, so these collection days give them the chance to do that.
  • This proactive initiative protects public health and the environment by reducing the potential contamination of soil, water and air from leaking containers, spills and illegal dumping or burning.
  • As I mentioned, we have had this program this since 1980 and what is amazing to me is what types of pesticides still turn up at collection days.
  • Chemicals from the 1940s still turn up from time to time. Even Agent Orange from the Vietnam War era has been collected in the past.
  • Altogether, the collection days add up to about 160,000 pounds of pesticides a year. We set a record in 2019 with 208,000 pounds collected and disposed of.
  • The program is a team effort. We contract with a hazardous materials collection company for the collection and disposal. Local extension offices also help set up collection sites and dates.
  • If a pesticide is still useable for its intended purpose, our staff can help arrange a transfer of those from one user to another.
  • These are good things to remember if you happen to have leftover or unwanted pesticides around your farm or home.
  • We do receive some funding from the N.C. General Assembly and the Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund.
  • Money from every pesticide/herbicide sale in North Carolina goes into the trust fund. It’s money well spent in my opinion.
  • I don’t know about you Mike, but I feel better that we did not talk about COVID-19 this week. I’d still remind folks to keep up your handwashing and social distancing. And look for local fruits, vegetables and meats at farmers markets, roadside stands and farms.
  • And keep praying for us to turn a corner on this virus!