Here’s something that we should do be doing annually but most likely have not:
Take a survey of our pesticides – jugs, bottles, and plastic containers that we’ve accumulated over the years. Like milk that’s stored too long their contents can go bad and lose their effectiveness. That’s particularly true of those stored in an unheated space where they’re subject to freeze-thaw cycles or dampness and humidity. Or the opposite, a shed that gets into the nineties on many summer afternoons.
But it’s not just the contents that goes bad! What about the label? Is it legible? What’s the chemical for? How much are you supposed to use?
I suggest that anything older than two years should be disposed of.
But how do you get rid of unwanted chemicals?
• Pesticides should be kept in their original containers.
• Any unused product and empty containers must be disposed in a safe, legal manner; see the product label for disposal instructions.
Additional tips from the University of Vermont include:
• Mark the purchase date on each pesticide container.
• Post emergency numbers in or near the storage area (Poison Control Center, ambulance, etc.)
• Read the product label for any specific storage requirements of each product
Buncombe County holds household hazardous waste collection days each Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the landfill located at 85 Panther Branch Road. For detailed information about disposal guidelines and fees for hazardous waste, visit Buncombe County’s Solid Waste website
http://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/solidwaste/solidwaste_disposal.aspx
or call (828) 250-5462.