SC Surveying Producers for Next Pesticide Amnesty Drop-off Locations

South Carolina Ag Commissioner is asking for producers with pesticides that need to be destroyed through a drop-off coordinated by SCDA to take a look at a survey at their website to determine the next locations.  The commissioner would like the next drop off to be early next year, and to have as many as three locations around the state.

“We are initiating our second phase of a pesticide amnesty program next year. We did one three years back and collect 250,000 pounds of pesticides and other producers that needed to be handled safely. This month we will start with a survey to find out where the best place in the state is to set up the collection places. We need people to participate in that survey by logging onto www.agriculture.sc.gov look under hot topics and pesticide amnesty. We want to hear your opinions.

There are possibly farmers out there who have things that are years old and potentially illegal now. We have folks that might buy a farm and find things in the barn, they might not even know what it is. A lot of products used 5-10 years ago are no longer usable may still be on hand.
 

We are hoping to have this in January or February of 2013, but we really need that survey information to be smart about the drop off locations. We are hoping to have about three sites and try to have them in strategic spots. We have done them in parking lots of farm stores and elevators. We just need space to set up the collection trucks.
 

We are focused on the agricultural chemicals for this and not necessarily something that a home owner might find.”