Pest Control Alert
News to use from UGA Extension – www.ugaextension.org
Disposing of Excess or Old Pesticides (The Right Way!)
Willie Chance, Outreach Coordinator, UGA Center for Urban Agriculture – www.ugaurbanag.org
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Most certified pesticide applicators eventually run into a situation where they
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have old or excess pesticides that they no longer use. How can commercial
February 17-18 and March
pesticide applicators properly dispose of these pesticides?
17-18, 2011, Griffin
Agenda (pdf)
I spoke with Steve Cole, Georgia Department of Agriculture and got some tips:
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March 31 - April 1, 2011,
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April 7-June 9, 2011, Griffin
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1. First, do not dispose of these pesticides in an illegal or unsafe way. Do not
pour them into storm drains and other drains, put them into trash cans, or use
other similar disposal methods. These disposal systems do not have the ability
to degrade these pesticides properly and the pesticide can quickly put people
and the environment at risk. This may also cause a liability problem for you
personally or your company.
2. The best method to dispose of old or unwanted pesticides is by using it
per label directions. Be careful to use it on a labeled crop, at the labeled rate
with all recommended precautions. Even with an old pesticide that may not be
effective, follow the label! Just because a pesticide is old and perhaps
ineffective, does not mean it is not still toxic. Follow all label precautions when
applying any pesticide!
Apply the pesticide in a place where it is least likely to impact people and
the environment. Consider that though you must use the pesticide per the label,
you do not necessarily have to use the pesticide for the purpose or location for
Pest Control Operators which you bought it. For instance, you may have bought a pesticide for use
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inside a structure. It may not make sense to apply the pesticide inside just to get
rid of it. The same pesticide may also be labeled for use outside in a field,
GA Pest Control Association forest, lawn, landscape etc. When disposing of pesticides by applying them,
select a location where there will be less risk to people or the environment.
Certified Pest Control
Operators Association of GA
Online information!
3. If the pesticide is not too old, share it with someone who could use the
pesticide legally. The exception to this would be restricted use pesticides
(RUPs). Do not share RUPs with someone else, but rather use them yourself. If
you give an RUP to another person and they use it incorrectly, you may be
liable since the pesticide was purchased under your license number.
Urban Pest Management
When sharing a pesticide consider that:
Pest Management Handbook
Extension Publications
Pesticide Applicator Info


The pesticide must remain in the original container and with the label.
The user must follow all label directions. Select a pesticide applicator to
receive the pesticide that will be able to legitimately use the chemical
according to the label.
4. Certain companies dispose of pesticides for a fee. There will usually be a
For more information
Contact your local Extension
Office – (800) ASK-UGA1 or
locate your local Extension
Office.
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For further
information on
pesticide disposal
Georgia Department of
Agriculture – (800) 2825852
Hazardous Waste
Division, Georgia
Environmental Protection
Division – (404) 657-8831
(agricultural) or (404) 3622537 (household)
EPA Hazardous Waste
Hotline (Superfund) - (800)
424-9346
set up fee and a per pound fee. If you must go this route, try to gather all your
un-needed pesticides at one time so that you pay only one set-up fee. The
company may also be able to dispose of other unwanted chemicals for you.
5. The GA Department of Agriculture realized the need for pesticide
disposal and implemented a very successful pesticide disposal program
called the GA Clean Days. From its inception through 2008 the GA Clean
Days disposed of more than 2 million pounds of pesticides! Unfortunately, the
program has not been funded for the past three years. Steve hopes that the
program will be funded again in the future. Interested individuals may want to
contact their legislators to express an interest in seeing the program begin again.
For more information on GA Clean days or other pesticide issues, contact Steve
Cole at Stephen.Cole@agr.georgia.gov.
5. Reduce the need to dispose of pesticides by following these tips:
 Buy only the amount of pesticide you will use quickly.
 Use pesticides before they get old. Use your oldest stock first so that
none of your pesticides become too old to use.
 Proper handling and storage, per label directions, may lengthen the
effective life of the pesticide.
In summary:



Using unwanted pesticides per label directions is usually the best
disposal method, even if you think they will not be effective.
Read the pesticide label to select a place to apply the pesticide that is
both legal and safe for people and the environment.
Apply the pesticide to this site following all label directions and
precautions including any required personal protection equipment and
posting.