Individuals, farmers and businesses with pesticides they no longer need or want can register for a free pesticide-collection event being organized this spring by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides and most chemicals that kill or repel unwanted pests will be accepted. WSDA works with a contracted hazardous-waste company to package the pesticides for safe transportation and disposal.
WSDA will provide supplies to protect broken or leaky containers and can provide free, on-site customer assistance to prepare pesticides for disposal.
This collection event is not for empty pesticide containers, fertilizers, motor oil or household hazardous waste. Those items should be disposed of through Okanogan County’s solid-waste program. There are regular collection times for hazardous materials such as paints and solvents at the Twisp transfer station on the second Thursday of the month from November to February and the second and fourth Thursday of the month from March to October. Hours are noon to 3 p.m.
The dates and locations for pesticide collection will be decided once WDSA knows how many people to expect. To participate, contact WSDA by Feb. 27 at wastepesticide@agr.wa.gov, or call (360) 902-2056.
More information about the state’s waste-pesticide program, as well as related disposal programs, is at www.agr.wa.gov/wastepesticide.
