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***Homeowners may participate in Household Hazardous Waste programs as described in the
"Homeowner" section of this web site. The following information is intended for farmers and
commercial applicators. Follow all local, state, and federal regulations regarding pesticide
handling and disposal, and review the product label for any specific directions.***
This module will help you understand the options for handling and disposing unwanted pesticides and
pesticide-treated seed. It provides general principles and external links to organizations that can assist you on
the proper disposal of pesticides in your area. Dr. Wayne Buhler, Associate Professor, North Carolina State
University, compiled the information in this module using resources acknowledged in the Introduction and
contributions from national subject matter experts.
A brief description of, and links to, the various topics within this module follows:
Introduction
Basic "do's and don'ts" of disposing unwanted pesticides
How to Deal with Label Changes
Disposal of pesticides with canceled uses
Disposal Options
What to do with unwanted pesticide
Transporting Wastes
Hazmat regulations for roadways
Federal Laws
Legal regulation of disposal
Reduce the Need for Disposal
Steps to improve pesticide management
Treated Seed
Proper disposal of pesticide-treeated seed
Web Links/Fact Sheets
List of additional resources
Introduction
Photo credit: Washington State Department of Agriculture
Compiled by Dr. Wayne Buhler
If you use pesticides, at some point you will need to dispose of unwanted pesticide, excess spray mixture,
pesticide-treated products, or waste materials containing pesticides or their residues. Excess pesticide and rinsates
that cannot be used must be handled carefully and many pesticides must be disposed of as hazardous waste.
Other pesticide wastes include contaminated soil, spill cleanup materials, and personal protective equipment (PPE)
that cannot be cleaned and reused.
The pesticide user is responsible for the proper care of pesticides or pesticide-containing items until they can be
properly disposed of. Failure to store such materials safely and dispose of them properly may result in serious
harm to people, animals, and the environment. It may also result in legal action and penalties. Never dump
pesticides or pesticide wastes on the ground, into or near water, or into storm drains, or septic
tanks.
Any pesticide intended for disposal or collection must be in a correctly labeled container in good condition. Always
wear proper protective clothing and equipment when handling pesticides or pesticide wastes.
References
1. How to Store, Handle, and Dispose of Agrichemical Pesticides. 1999. Paul Guillebeau and Mark Risse. University
of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service. Circular 846.
2. Pesticide Disposal. Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Facts and Updates.
http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/facts/disposal.html
3. 2009 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. NC State University.
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem/agchem.html
Pesticide Disposal Options
EPA
The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance
EPA's Clean Sweep
Compiled by Wayne Buhler
1. Dealers and manufacturers will sometimes accept the return of unopened
containers of recently purchased pesticides.
2. If a return cannot be arranged, the pesticide may be donated to someone
who is qualified to use it properly. Before donating any pesticide, make sure
that you are in compliance with these limitations:
a. The pesticide is not designated RESTRICTED USE on the label.
b. The donated pesticide must be in its original, fully-labeled container.
3. If the pesticide registration was recently canceled, the manufacturer may
have set up a recall program to collect the pesticide for disposal. Contact the
manufacturer listed on the product label.
4. The label may indicate how to dispose of small amounts of the pesticide.
Often, left-over pesticide, application equipment rinse water, or materials
used for spill clean-up (cat litter, sand, lime, etc.) may be applied to a site
permitted by the label. Do not exceed the labeled application rate and follow
all directions. If decontamination solutions, cleaners, detergents, ammonia,
chlorine bleaches, etc. are used to remove residues, they may need to be
diluted before application to prevent soil and plant injury.
5. Many states sponsor collection programs for unwanted
pesticides. Eligibility rules vary from state to state. Collection
programs are usually free, but not all materials are accepted.
The pesticide must be in a clearly labeled, structurally sound,
commercial container. Some pesticides, including gaseous
fumigants and products containing mercury compounds are not
acceptable. For more information on available programs, visit EPA
(http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/disposal_contacts.htm) or The
Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (http://tpsalliance.org/state_programs.html).
A summary of EPA's Clean Sweep Program is available at
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/clean_summ.htm.
6. In some states or in some circumstances, it may be necessary to find a
commercial disposal company with a permit from the US EPA to dispose of
pesticide wastes in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA). If you need to use a commercial hazardous waste disposal
service, contact several firms, compare costs (including transport fees),
and ask for and check references. A commercial waste collector will ask you
for an inventory of chemicals. All paperwork (manifests) generated by the
disposal should be retained permanently because the person who generates
a hazardous waste (the pesticide user) is legally and financially responsible
for that material for as long as it remains in existence. You cannot assume
that disposal of a pesticide (which is classified as hazardous waste by RCRA,
see Federal Laws-Pesticide Disposal) at an EPA permitted facility eliminates
all further legal responsibility for that product. Therefore, even though
destructive disposal (incineration) may cost more than nondestructive
disposal (landfilling), there are long-term benefits for choosing the
incineration method.
Federal Laws - Pesticide Disposal
Pesticide Waste vs Hazardous Waste
State Waste Programs
EPA Waste Index
RCRA Online
The disposal of some pesticides in certain quantities involves Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations which include stringent
requirements for storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste, and severe
penalties for failure to comply with regulations. While all pesticides are hazardous
materials, not all are legally classified as RCRA hazardous waste (see link: Pesticide
Waste vs Hazardous Waste http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slidesself/facts/pesthazard.aspx). Also, state regulations may be more stringent than the
federal RCRA regulations in identifying pesticides as hazardous wastes. The
contacts for both solid and hazardous waste disposal in each state can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wyl/stateprograms.htm.
For further information, type in 'RCRA Orientation Manual' in the search box of the
following EPA Web site: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm. In addition,
RCRA Online, http://www.epa.gov/osw/inforesources/online/index.htm, allows you
to search for documents on disposal, treatment, and other RCRA-related topics.
Photo credit: Washington Department of Agriculture
Treated Seed
NPIC State Offices
Waste Categories
Waste Contacts
Seed Disposal Industry Guidelines
Complied by Dr. Wayne Buhler
What should you do with unwanted seed that has been treated with a
pesticide? If possible, the seed should be planted! Leftover treated seed
may be doublesown around the headland or within a portion of the field at
an agronomically acceptable seeding rate. However, if the treated seed no
longer has acceptable germination or has been damaged, preferred
options include 1) fermentation in an alcohol-producing process (mash or
distillers grains should not be used as feed), 2) use as a fuel source for
power plants or cement kilns, 3) incineration by a waste management
facility, or 4) seeding to serve as wildlife habitat.
If the seed bag tag states that the treated seed may be hazardous to wildlife, do NOT seed for wildlife habitat.
When seeding (at an agronomically acceptable seeding rate) for wildlife habitat, use normal practices (for
example, local planting dates and soil temperatures) that are recommended by your state agricultural extension
agent. To protect wildlife and aquatic organisms, cover or collect treated seeds that are spilled during loading and
in areas such as row ends, and plant seed away from bodies of water. Treated seed must be planted at a depth
greater than 1 inch.
Disposal in approved municipal landfills is permitted in some states. However, landfill disposal is costly and usually
not practical for large volumes of treated seed; and permits may be required. Composting is not recommended.
Other methods may be available, but consult first with your state and local authorities to be sure you are in
compliance with appropriate regulations. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) provides contact
information for state offices that regulate pesticides at http://npic.orst.edu/state1.htm. If disposal is the selected
option, seed treated with pesticides may be handled as normal solid waste or as hazardous wastes
(http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm), depending on the active ingredient. The contacts for both solid
and hazardous waste disposal in each state can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wyl/stateprograms.htm.
Seed treated with Syngenta active ingredients such as thiamethoxam, mefenoxam, fludioxonil, and difenoconazole
are not classified as hazardous wastes under 40 CFR.261. They are classified as "Dirt, Grain, Seeds Contaminated
with Pesticides/Non-DOT Regulated, Non-Hazardous Waste" and are subject to solid waste regulations at the state
and local levels. If Syngenta seed treatment products are combined with other active ingredients, they may need
to be classified differently. Check the status of each active ingredient regarding its waste classification status
before committing to a disposal process.
The Seed Treatment and Environmental Committee of the International Seed Trade Federation has prepared an
informative paper
(http://www.syngentacropprotection.com/Env_Stewardship/futuretopics/seeddisposalindustryguidelines.pdf) outlini
ng general guidelines and possible options for disposal of treated seeds in some countries. Always follow
federal, state, and local regulations.
Adapted with permission from the Syngenta Crop Protection Environmental Stewardship Web Site
Treated Seed
NPIC State Offices
Waste Categories
Waste Contacts
Seed Disposal Industry Guidelines
Complied by Dr. Wayne Buhler
What should you do with unwanted seed that has been treated with a
pesticide? If possible, the seed should be planted! Leftover treated seed
may be doublesown around the headland or within a portion of the field at
an agronomically acceptable seeding rate. However, if the treated seed no
longer has acceptable germination or has been damaged, preferred
options include 1) fermentation in an alcohol-producing process (mash or
distillers grains should not be used as feed), 2) use as a fuel source for
power plants or cement kilns, 3) incineration by a waste management
facility, or 4) seeding to serve as wildlife habitat.
If the seed bag tag states that the treated seed may be hazardous to wildlife, do NOT seed for wildlife habitat.
When seeding (at an agronomically acceptable seeding rate) for wildlife habitat, use normal practices (for
example, local planting dates and soil temperatures) that are recommended by your state agricultural extension
agent. To protect wildlife and aquatic organisms, cover or collect treated seeds that are spilled during loading and
in areas such as row ends, and plant seed away from bodies of water. Treated seed must be planted at a depth
greater than 1 inch.
Disposal in approved municipal landfills is permitted in some states. However, landfill disposal is costly and usually
not practical for large volumes of treated seed; and permits may be required. Composting is not recommended.
Other methods may be available, but consult first with your state and local authorities to be sure you are in
compliance with appropriate regulations. The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) provides contact
information for state offices that regulate pesticides at http://npic.orst.edu/state1.htm. If disposal is the selected
option, seed treated with pesticides may be handled as normal solid waste or as hazardous wastes
(http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm), depending on the active ingredient. The contacts for both solid
and hazardous waste disposal in each state can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/wyl/stateprograms.htm.
Seed treated with Syngenta active ingredients such as thiamethoxam, mefenoxam, fludioxonil, and difenoconazole
are not classified as hazardous wastes under 40 CFR.261. They are classified as "Dirt, Grain, Seeds Contaminated
with Pesticides/Non-DOT Regulated, Non-Hazardous Waste" and are subject to solid waste regulations at the state
and local levels. If Syngenta seed treatment products are combined with other active ingredients, they may need
to be classified differently. Check the status of each active ingredient regarding its waste classification status
before committing to a disposal process.
The Seed Treatment and Environmental Committee of the International Seed Trade Federation has prepared an
informative paper
(http://www.syngentacropprotection.com/Env_Stewardship/futuretopics/seeddisposalindustryguidelines.pdf) outlini
ng general guidelines and possible options for disposal of treated seeds in some countries. Always follow
federal, state, and local regulations.
Adapted with permission from the Syngenta Crop Protection Environmental Stewardship Web Site
Transporting Wastes
Disposal Contacts
State Programs
Compiled by Wayne Buhler
For private pesticide applicators in some states, a manifest (document of contents)
is not required for transporting pesticides to a disposal site as it is for commercial
transport. Some pesticides must have a label indicating "Universal Waste
Pesticide".
For more information about transporting pesticides
to disposal sites, contact the coordinator of your
state pesticide disposal assistance program (not all
state participate) from lists provided by the EPA
(http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/disposal_contacts.htm) or The Pesticide
Stewardship Alliance (http://tpsalliance.org/state_programs.html).
Photo credit: Derrick Bell, NCDA&CS
Reduce the Need for Disposal
Compiled by Wayne Buhler
1. Use an integrated pest management (IPM) program to manage pests.
2. Buy only the amount of pesticide needed for one season.
3. For each application, calculate how much diluted pesticide is required for the
job. Use all the mixed pesticide in accordance with label instructions.
4. Use older pesticides first so that products are less likely to go out of date
before use.
5. Apply rinse water containing pesticide residue to labeled-use sites.
Photo credit: M. Weaver, Pesticidepics.org
Web links/Fact Sheets
Compiled by Wayne Buhler
1. The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance (TPSA): http://tpsalliance.org/
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulating Pesticides, Storage and
Disposal: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/storage.htm
3. North Carolina Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program:
http://www.ncagr.com/str-pest/pesticides/pdap/pdap.htm
4. Household Hazardous Waste Collection Programs: http://www.earth911.org/
5. How to Store, Handle, and Dispose of Agrichemical Pesticides. 1999. Paul
Guillebeau and Mark Risse. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
Service. Circular 846.
6. Pesticide Disposal. Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Facts and Updates.
http://www.pesticidesafety.uiuc.edu/facts/disposal.html
7. 2009 North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual. NC State University.
http://ipm.ncsu.edu/agchem
8. Proper Disposal of Pesticide Waste. Univ. of FL. Revised August, 2000.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/PI010.