Fourth Annual Statewide Pesticide Collection Program Scheduled for November

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2001

CONTACT: Diane Baedeker Petit
617-626-1752 Diane.Baedeker@state.ma.us

Gerard Kennedy
617-626-1773 Gerard.Kennedy@state.ma.us

The Massachusetts Pesticide Bureau will conduct its Fourth Annual Waste Pesticide Collection Program in November. The annual collection program is a legal, low cost, opportunity for pesticide users to dispose of unused, unwanted, banned and cancelled pesticides. Licensed and certified pesticide applicators, farmers, state agencies and municipal agencies are eligible to participate. Since 1998, the Pesticide Bureau has collected over 80,000 lbs of waste pesticides at seventeen locations.

As in past years, Safety-Kleen will be the licensed hazardous waste hauler collecting the waste pesticides. The collection events will occur at Massachusetts Highway Department facilities in the following locations. "Pesticide Bureau Event" signs will be posted outside the locations.

· November 13 -- Bridgewater, MassHighway Depot. (Intersection of Routes 24 and 104.)

· November 14 -- Waltham, UMass Extension Center. (240 Beaver Street, Waltham)

· November 15 -- Millbury, MassHighway Maintenance Facility (On Route 146 South. 1.7 miles South of Route 20 across from John Deere dealer).

· November 16 -- Northampton, MassHighway Facilities, (Route 9, Locust Street Take I-91 to Exit 18. Turn left at the bottom of the ramp to Route 5N. At the first set of lights turn left on to Route 9 West for 1.5 miles. Site is on the right after the City of Northampton facility.)

· November 19 -- Topsfield, Topsfield Fairgrounds, (Route 1)

Applicators must pre-register with Safety-Kleen to participate. The pre-registration form is available on the Pesticide Collection Program web site at http://www.massdfa.org/pesticides/waste.htm. Or, call the Pesticide Bureau at 617-626-1773.

With your pre-registration, Safety-Kleen will assign you a time to appear at the collection site and tell you how much you will be charged. The cost for disposal will be $9 per gallon and $1.35 per pound. Please pay on the day of the collection event using a cashier's check.

Applicators are responsible for making sure that their pesticides are packaged correctly for transportation. For more information on the safe packaging and transportation of pesticides, go to the Pesticide Collection Program web site at http://www.massdfa.org/pesticides/waste.htm.