Alberta farmers given the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted pesticides

ETOBICOKE, ON, Oct. 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Alberta farmers are being invited to participate in an obsolete agricultural pesticide disposal program, which gives them the chance to safely dispose of old or unwanted pesticides they may be storing on their farm.

The program will run in southern Alberta this year and return next year in the northern half of the province. Farmers are being asked to drop off their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides at participating ag retail sites on dates ranging from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.

The collection program is operated by CleanFARMS, an industry-led national not-for-profit agricultural waste management organization. "CleanFARMS is pleased to provide this environmentally safe way for farmers to dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides," says Barry Friesen, general manager of CleanFARMS. The program comes at no cost to farmers.

This is not the first time Alberta farmers are being invited to turn in their unwanted pesticides. Since 1998, farmers in the province have safely disposed of 203,889 kilograms of pesticides through the obsolete pesticide collection program. After collection, the pesticides are taken to a licensed waste management facility where they are disposed of through high temperature incineration.

"We're pleased to see this valuable program return to Alberta. Pesticides are valuable tools for farmers but it's important that there's a program in place that allows farmers to safely and responsibly dispose of old or unwanted pesticides. This program is good for farmers and it's good for the environment," says Lynn Jacobson, President of Wild Rose Agricultural Producers.

"Farmers are passionate about what they do and they're equally passionate about protecting the environment along the way. We've seen great participation from farmers in the province in the past when we've delivered this program," says Friesen.

Farmers are invited to return all of their obsolete or unwanted agricultural pesticides in a secure container with the product label attached. This program is strictly for agricultural pesticides; fertilizers, treated seed, paint, solvents and domestic pesticides will not be accepted.

Collections will take place at the following locations on the dates indicated. Products will only be accepted on the dates specified:

Oct. 29
Brooks, Viterra
Lethbridge, Cargill

Oct. 30
Dunmore, Richardson Pioneer
High River, Crop Production Services
Hussar, Richardson Pioneer
Oyen, Richardson Pioneer
Stirling, Richardson Pioneer

Oct. 31
Bow Island, Viterra
Carseland, Crop Production Services
Claresholm, Crop Production Services
Hanna, Fox Lake Agro
Magrath, Richardson Pioneer

Nov. 1
Balzac, Viterra
Delia, Viterra
Fort MacLeod, Viterra
Milk River, Crop Production Services
Taber, Crop Production Services

Nov. 2
Didsbury, Crop Production Services
Foremost, Crop Production services
Nobleford, Richardson Pioneer
Pincher Creek, Pincher Creek Co-op - Farm & Home
Red Deer, Viterra

Collections will run on the date indicated from 9 am to 4 pm.

SOURCE: CleanFARMS(R)

For more information, visit www.cleanfarms.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Erin O'Hara
613-230-9881 or 613-608-3446
[email protected]