Unwanted pesticide disposal

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  • Weatherford FFA students attend the National Convention in Indianapolis. Provided
  • ◄ Oklahoma State University’s Pesticide Safety Education Program is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to host two unwanted pesticide disposal days in Woodward and Muskogee. Todd Johnson/Oklahoma State University Agricultural Communications Services
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STILLWATER, — Oklahoma State University’s Pesticide Safety Education Program is partnering with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to host two unwanted pesticide disposal days in Woodward November 16 and Muskogee November 17.

The Oklahoma Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Program events will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Woodward County Fairgrounds, 108 Temple Houston Dr., in Woodward, and the Muskogee County Fairgrounds, 1440 S. Cherokee, in Muskogee.

Farmers, ranchers, applicators, pesticide dealers and homeowners may bring up to 2,000 pounds of pesticides to the dropoff sites for proper disposal at no charge.

A fee is required if bringing more than 2,000 pounds of pesticides.

ODAFF has contracted with Clean Earth, a licensed hazardous waste company, to collect and properly dispose of waste pesticides.

Pesticide dealers are asked to preregister through the Oklahoma State University Pesticide Safety Education Program because of the potential for large quantities of pesticides coming in from multiple dealers. Applicators and agricultural producers are not required to preregister.

Paint, batteries, oil or fertilizer will not be accepted.

Participants will need to safely transport their pesticides to one of the collection sites.

Pick-up services are not available. Please check out these safe transportation tips.

Originating in 2006, nearly 1.2 million pounds of pesticides have been properly disposed of during the Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Days, keeping them out of rivers, streams, landfills, storm drains and illegal roadside dumps. Proper disposal also lessens the chance of groundwater contamination and helps consumers get rid of containers taking up space in their barns, storage buildings and garages in an environmentally safe manner.

For more information, visit the Oklahoma State University Pesticide Safety Education Program website or contact Charles Luper, OSU Extension associate, at (405) 744-5808.

OSU Extension uses research-based information to help all Oklahomans solve local issues and concerns, promote leadership and manage resources wisely throughout the state’s 77 counties.

Most information is available at little to no cost.