Precautions with Pesticides:
Disposing of Pesticides and Empty Pesticide Containers

Table of Contents

1. Empty Pesticide Containers
2. Surplus Spray Mix
3. Surplus Pesticides in Storage
4. Other Topics on Using Pesticides in Ontario
   • Federal Registration of Pesticides
   • Regulation of Pesticides in Ontario
   • Certification and Licensing
   • Pesticide Application Information
   • Protect the Enviornment
   • Storing Pesticides
   • Pesticide Spills
   • Related Links

Empty Pesticide Containers

Never reuse empty containers. Puncture the cleaned empty containers to make them unusable.

The Ontario Empty Pesticide Container Recycling Program is available to growers and commercial applicators. Through this program, you can return cleaned and triple rinsed plastic/metal pesticide containers (up to 23 L for plastic and 20 L for metal) to pesticide container depots located throughout the province. Remove the paper booklet from the pesticide container before recycling. To locate the closest pesticide container recycling depot, call the Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573, your local dealer or municipality, or visit the CropLife Canada website at www.croplife.ca.

Surplus Spray Mix

The best way to dispose of any excess spray mix is to find other fields that require an application of this pesticide. Before spraying, check the label to make sure the pesticide is registered for use on that crop.

If you cannot find another field to spray, dilute the remaining spray mix by adding 10 parts of water for each 1 part of spray mix. The diluted solution can be safely applied to the original treated area as long as you do not exceed the pesticide rate recommended on the label. Be sure to check the label for any restrictions about crop rotation, days to harvest or surplus spray mix disposal.

Never re-spray the treated field with undiluted spray mix. Spraying an area twice will double the recommended pesticide rate. This may cause illegal pesticide residues in the harvested crop or harmful residues in the soil that can cause crop damage.

Surplus Pesticides in Storage

Be sure to safely dispose of pesticides that you do not need or cannot use. Options for proper disposal include:

• Contact the supplier. It is sometimes possible to return unused pesticide if it is still in its original, unopened container.
• Hire a waste hauler who is licensed under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act to carry hazardous wastes. Look in the yellow pages of your
  telephone directory under Liquid Waste Removal.
• Check your local paper or visit the CropLife Canada website (www.croplife.ca) for upcoming Obsolete Pesticide Collection Days.
• Contact your municipality to see if any waste collection days are scheduled and verify whether quantities of agricultural pesticides will be accepted.

Related Links

• Publication 75, Guide to Weed Control
• Publication 812, Field Crop Protection Guide
• PMRA website
• Grower Pesticide Safety Course Manual
  • The Pesticide Label
  • Health Risks of Pesticide Use
  • Protective Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment