Obsolete pesticide collection campaign comes to southern Saskatchewan
October 24, 2011 – Ottawa, ON – As fall sets in and another harvesting season comes to a close, farmers are being invited to safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides.
Southern Saskatchewan agricultural producers can drop off their unwanted pesticides at one of 18 collection locations over a three-day period between October 25 and 27.
The collection program is operated by Cleanfarms, an industry-led national not-for-profit agricultural waste management organization. A similar program will be offered in northern Saskatchewan in 2012.
“Cleanfarms is committed to providing programs to collect unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides in an environmentally responsible way, at no cost to farmers,” says Barry Friesen, general manager of Cleanfarms.
Saskatchewan farmers have a long history of good stewardship practices. Since 1998 they’ve returned more than 280,459 kilograms of obsolete pesticides. After collection, the pesticides are taken to a licensed waste management facility where they are disposed of through high temperature incineration.
“We know that farmers care a lot about the environment. This becomes abundantly clear when we see their participation rates in programs like the obsolete pesticide collection program as well as our empty pesticide container recycling program,” says Friesen.
Farmers are invited to return all of their obsolete or unwanted agricultural pesticides in a secure container with the product label attached. This program is strictly for agricultural pesticides; adjuvents, fertilizers, treated seed, paint, solvents and domestic pesticides will not be accepted.
Collections will take place at the following locations from October 25 – 27:
- Assiniboia, Viterra
- Balcarres, Cargill
- Central Butte, Hawks Agro
- Estevan, Richardson Pioneer
- Indian Head, Viterra
- Kindersley, Cargill
- Mankota, Viterra
- Maple Creek, Viterra
- Melville, Viterra
- Moose Jaw, Cargill
- Regina, Viterra
- Redvers, Advantage Coop
- Shaunavon, Shaunavon Coop
- Strasbourg, Richardson Pioneer
- Swift Current, Viterra
- Weyburn, Weyburn Inland Terminal
- Whitewood, Richardson Pioneer
- Yorkton, CargillFor more information, visit www.cleanfarms.ca. For media inquiries, please contact:Erin O’Hara 613-230-9881 oharae@croplife.ca
