The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) is urging homeowners, farmers, golf course operators, and pesticide applicators and dealers to get rid of unwanted, outdated, or banned pesticides.
The Virginia Pesticide Collection Program disposes of pesticides in a safe manner and has destroyed more than 1.5 million pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides since its inception.
VDACS and its Office of Pesticide Services, in partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension, provides this service free of charge. The program is funded through pesticide product registration fees collected by OPS.
The following are upcoming collection sites. All locations are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sept. 9—Merrifield Garden Center, 12101 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030
Sept. 10—James S. Long Regional Park, 4603 James Madison Highway, Haymarket, VA 20169
Unwanted pesticides must be transported to one of the central collection sites. If participants cannot safely containerize the unwanted pesticides for transport, VDACS may arrange assistance on a case-by-case basis. The program does not accept motor oil, paint, fuel, fertilizer, or other chemicals.
Participants are asked to complete a pesticide collection registration form prior to arrival and return the completed form to jeffrey.rogers@vdacs.virginia.gov or mail to Office of Pesticide Services, VDACS, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. The form is available at vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticide-collection.shtml or by contacting the program at 804-786-3798.
