Summary

Over the years the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has banned, canceled, or suspended many pesticides because of potential risk to human health. Farmers may still have these cancelled and suspended products in storage as they await the availability of disposal options. Long term storage of these pesticides can pose unnecessary risks to employees, surrounding communities, and the environment. Proper disposal can be costly and a regulatory burden for small farmers and other pesticide users. This locally funded Hillsborough County program offered an opportunity to avoid these barriers and to promote safe and environmentally sound pesticide use, handling and disposal. Two Agriculture Pesticide Collection Days were held on September 5 and December 12, 2003. According to the program report and participant surveys (September, December), between the two collection events, 34 participants disposed of 23,998 pounds of unusable pesticides. The total amount expended was $30,885.

Cooperating Organizations

• Hillsborough County Economic Development Department
• Agriculture Industry Development Program
• Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Department
• Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service
• Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County
• US Liquids of Florida
  

For Additional Information Contact

Stephen Gran
Agriculture Industry Development Program
Hillsborough County Economic Development Department
813-272-5506