Oklahoma State University’s Pesticide Safety Education Program will partner with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to host two unwanted pesticide disposal days in McAlester, Oklahoma, on April 25, and Kingfisher, Oklahoma, on April 27.
The events will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Southeast Expo Center, 4500 West, 4500 US-270 in McAlester and the Kingfisher County Fairgrounds, 300 S. 13th St., in Kingfisher.
Farmers, ranchers, applicators, pesticide dealers and homeowners may bring up to 2,000 pounds of pesticides to the drop-off 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 OSU 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. Read these safe transportation tips before bringing chemicals to the drop-off site.
Originating in 2006, 1.232 million pounds of pesticides have been properly disposed of during Unwanted Pesticide Disposal Days, keeping the chemicals 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 OSU Pesticide Safety Education Program website or contact Charles Luper, OSU Extension associate, at 405-744-5808
