The proper use of pesticides is everyone's responsibility, not just farmers. Almost all farmers use pesticides in their farm operations, but virtually every adult uses pesticides as well. Homeowners use chemicals to kill weeds and insects in their lawns and gardens. Even those who don't have lawns and gardens most likely use something occasionally to kill insects in the house or at least something to repel insects like mosquitoes.

We all have a responsibility to not only use pesticides properly but to store them properly and, when the occasion arises, to dispose of them properly. We should be concerned about our environment and the damage we might do if we do not handle pesticides properly.

Charlie Lowery, horticultural agent and pesticide educator on our staff, has made arrangements for the Pesticide Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to conduct an "Unwanted Pesticide Collection Day" here in Robeson County next Tuesday, February 26. It is very expensive for an individual to dispose of unwanted pesticides, so here is an opportunity to handle this problem at no cost.

This collection day will be held at the Robeson County Fairgrounds on Highway 41, 1 mile south of Lumberton. Just bring your unwanted pesticides, in their original containers, to the fairgrounds between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Don't be late, because the NCDA personnel will be leaving at 2 p.m. to pick up pesticides in other counties.

I would be willing to bet that if you look in the garage, in your shop, in your storage rooms, in the bathroom, or under the kitchen sink, you will find some old pesticides that are no longer needed. It may be a bottle of something that is so old you might wonder if it would still be effective. It may be something that you no longer need, because you no longer have that pest. It may be something you don't even know what it is.

What do you do? Please don't throw it in the garbage can or in the woods, and by all means, don't pour it down the drain. These are by far the worst things you could do for the environment, and in addition, this is illegal. Bring them to the Robeson County Fairgrounds for proper disposal.

If you are a farmer and have old pesticides stored on your farm, the best strategy is to use them in your normal farm operations at labeled rates. When used at labeled rates, they will not cause harm to the environment, and organisms in the soil will degrade the chemicals in a short period of time. If they are currently legal to use and in good condition but you absolutely have no use for them, consider giving them to a farmer who is still producing the crops they are labeled for. You will solve your problems, and you will save him a bunch of money.

If you have old pesticides that are no longer legal to use, or if you have no way to properly apply them at labeled rates, do not bury them, burn them, or throw them in the woods. This is bad for the environment and it is illegal. Bring them to the Robeson County Fairgrounds and let NCDA dispose of them for you.

If you are a retired farmer, I encourage you to take the time to look through your old barns and storage buildings. There may be some old pesticides stored in these buildings that you have forgotten about. If so, here is a great opportunity for you to get rid of them before the containers begin leaking and cause a health or safety problem for you and your family.

If you know a widow of a farmer, please be considerate enough to assist in checking any old barns and storage buildings on the farm for unwanted pesticides. These buildings may contain old pesticides they do not even know are there. This is a good opportunity to get NCDA to dispose of these unwanted pesticides before the containers begin leaking and causing serious problems.

If you are not a farmer but have bought a farm in recent years as a home site or for residential development, I encourage you to check any buildings on the farm for unwanted pesticides. If there are any present and the containers begin leaking, you may be faced with tremendous expense to clean up what may become a toxic waste site. The cost to do this may run into the thousands of dollars.

In conclusion, since you are most likely using pesticides of some form, I encourage you to be responsible. Handle pesticides properly, use them properly, and if you have any pesticides that you no longer need, please dispose of them properly. Bring them to the fairgrounds on February 26.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 2/28/02