Garden Column for the Salisbury

Darrell Blackwelder

May 27, 2004

Now is the time for home gardeners to do a little spring cleaning around the home. I'm not talking about normal household chores or even cleaning up weeds in your flower beds. I'm speaking to those that have pesticides that they no longer use that want to eliminate them from their inventory.
I have spoken to quite a few homeowners for various reasons have old pesticides they would like to eliminate. The best method of disposing unused pesticides is to use them or give them to a friend or neighbor that correctly uses pesticides. However, if you can't give them to someone that can use them, there will be a Pesticide Disposal Day in Rowan County.

            Cooperative Extension is sponsoring a Pesticide Disposal Day, Thursday, June 3^rd from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Agricultural Center on Old Concord Road in Salisbury. The Pesticide Disposal Day is joint effort sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension.
     Farmers, home gardeners and homeowners that have pesticides they want to discard now have the opportunity to discard them legally and at no cost. Pesticides are defined as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.. Paints, thinners, and household chemicals are not pesticides and will not be accepted at this collection day.
     Pesticide containers must be clearly labeled and the containers must not be leaking. Non-labeled products will not be accepted.
     This Pesticide Disposal Day is one day only. Pesticides will only be collected at the designated times. Those that have containers but cannot bring them to the site should make necessary arrangements with friends or neighbors. Pesticide Disposal Day in Rowan County does not occur each year because collections are usually rotated from county to county. Now is a chance to eliminate unwanted pesticides from your inventory. Contact Cooperative Extension at 704-633-0571 or e-mail at darrell_blackwelder@ncsu.edu for questions or more information concerning the disposal.

Darrell Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Rowan County. For archived garden columns or other information, visit the Rowan County Master Gardener web site at www.rowanmastergardener.com , e-mail Darrell_Blackwelder@ncsu.edu or phone at 704-633-0571.