Jamestown hosts July 8 pesticide collection through Project Safe Send

Unusable pesticides can be dropped off free of charge in Jamestown on July 8, giving farmers, ranchers, dealers, applicators, homeowners and government agencies a legal way to clear out old chemicals before they leak, break or get dumped where they can contaminate soil and water. The stop is part of Project Safe Send, and anyone with pesticide products sitting on shelves, in sheds or in shop corners can use the collection instead of storing them improperly.

The Jamestown collection will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 3568 81st Ave. SE, inside the North Dakota Department of Transportation facility. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said the July collections are open to farmers, ranchers, pesticide dealers and applicators, government agencies, homeowners and the general public.

Project Safe Send accepts herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides and fungicides, but it does not take paints, fuels, lubricants, antifreeze, fertilizers or soil conditioners. Check storage areas for unusable pesticides and, if containers are deteriorating or leaking, pack them in larger containers with absorbent materials. Free heavy-duty plastic bags are available from the department if needed.

There are limits on how much can come in. Participants are limited to one shuttle, pesticide distributors and agronomy centers are limited to 3,000 pounds and one shuttle, and anyone bringing more than 1,000 pounds must pre-register one week before the collection date. The maximum accepted amount is 5,000 pounds per participant. Collected pesticides are shipped out of state for incineration, and the program is funded through product registration fees paid by pesticide manufacturers.

Since 1992, nearly 12,000 people have brought in more than 6.8 million pounds of pesticides.