Disposal of Pesticide Containers

A moderately toxic pesticide that has the word "Warning" on the label means that a teaspoon to a tablespoon full, if swallowed, could kill an average adult. And, as little as two tablespoons of pesticides with the word "Caution" on the label can be fatal for an adult.

Even after you use all of a pesticide, there still may be some of the product left in the container. Pesticide dusts in bags and boxes can have residue sticking to the inside and possibly even the outside of the package .

Extremely dangerous…

Wettable powders act very much the same way, however, they usually have a much higher concentration of active ingredients than the dust formulations. The residues of wettable powders left in the empty container may be more toxic than most dusts .

Small amounts of liquid pesticides may stay in the bottle, jug or can after it has been emptied. Emulsifiable concentrates, flowable, miscible and soluble formulations may have a concentration equal to or greater than the wettable powder formulation.

Avoid contact with pesticides. It only takes a "taste" of a concentrate labeled "Danger Poison" to kill the average adult. Children have less sensitive or selective tastes and may taste a material out of curiosity in an amount that could be fatal.

Rinsing containers, prompt disposal, and complete security are important to prevent accidental contact with pesticide residues.

Temporary…

Temporary disposal of pesticide containers should be limited to the safe storage of the empty containers before they are permanently disposed of. This means before your next trash collection or trip to the sanitary landfill. The temporary disposal of an empty pesticide container requires the same storage security and cautious handling as it would if it contained usable amounts of the product.

Follow instructions…

When a pesticide is labeled "Keep out of reach of children," or "Do not reuse this container for another purpose." Or "Do not contaminate the environment," this means you should follow the label directions even when the container is empty.

Permanent…

Permanent disposal of empty pesticide containers for most people living in cities and in some rural areas is through the regular trash collection that goes to a sanitary landfill. Many pesticide labels advise triple rinsing the empty container if suitable, then wrapping it with several layers of paper and placing it in the regular trash collection. Use the rinse water in your sprayer.

Do not reuse containers.

None of the containers that are used for small package home owner pesticides are suitable for reuse, return, or recycling. Burning of containers is not possible for most urban home owners because of local restrictions, and pressurized containers such as aerosol spray cans should not be incinerated, anyway, because of the danger of explosion.

As a pesticide user, your goal, is to dispose of these empty pesticide containers in a manner that protects everyone from accidental contact with a toxic chemical and to help prevent pesticide residues from escaping into the environment.

For more information and suggestions about the proper disposal of pesticide containers; contact your local County Extension Office.