Obsolete pesticide collection campaign comes to the Fraser Valley
October 11, 2011 ‐ Ottawa, ON – Farmers in the Fraser Valley region can safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides at one of two locations.
Cleanfarms, an industry‐led national not‐for‐profit agricultural waste management organization, is heading the collection campaign, which will take place in two locations across the Fraser Valley beginning today. Collections took place in the Vancouver Island region earlier in the month.
“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.
British Columbia farmers have demonstrated their commitment to good stewardship over the years. Since 1998 they’ve returned more than 185,000 kilograms of obsolete pesticides in B.C. After collection, the pesticides are taken to a licensed waste management facility where they are disposed of through high temperature incineration.
Co‐funders of the program, the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC), through the Agriculture Environment and Wildlife Fund of the BC Investment Agriculture Foundation, welcomed the opportunity to participate in this initiative.
“We’re pleased to support and be part of this program as it offers a tremendous service to farmers and plays an important role in protecting the environment for all British Columbians,” says Greg Norton, Chair of the BCAC Agriculture Environment Initiatives Management Committee.
Farmers are invited to return all of their obsolete or unwanted agricultural pesticides in a secure container with the label attached. This program is strictly for agricultural pesticides; adjuvents, treated seed, paint, solvents and domestic pesticides will not be accepted.
Collections will take place at the following locations and dates:
- October 11 & 12 – Agrium Advanced Technologies (formerly Evergro Canada Inc.), Delta
- October 19 & 20 – Abbotsford Mission Recycling Depot, Abbotsford All collection locations will be open from 10 am to 4 pm.
For more information, visit www.cleanfarms.ca.
For media inquiries, please contact:Erin O’Hara 613‐230‐9881 oharae@croplife.caGrace Cho
604‐847‐3698
Communications@bcac.bc.ca
