Q. WHAT IS THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WASTE PESTICIDE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL PROGRAM?

A. For an individual, waste pesticide disposal can be a complicated and expensive procedure. The Montana Department of Agriculture sponsors a program to collect and properly dispose of waste pesticides and metal pesticide containers in which the Department shares the cost of disposal with the program participants.
 

Q. WHAT ARE WASTE PESTICIDES?

A. When pesticides become unusable as originally intended they are considered waste. Some pesticides have a limited shelf life and may undergo changes rendering them unusable. An example of this is an improperly stored pesticide container that freezes in the winter.  Pesticides also become unusable when they are no longer registered for use in Montana and are illegal to use. Any pesticide that has lost its label and becomes unidentifiable is considered waste pesticides as well.

Q. WHO HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROPER DISPOSAL OF PESTICIDES?

A. Any person, company or organization that purchases or controls a pesticide is legally responsible for proper use, handling, storage, and disposal. For more information contact the Montana Department of Agriculture.  It is illegal to bury, burn, or discard a pesticide or its container in a manner inconsistent with instructions found on the label.

Q. HOW DO I KNOW IF A PESTICIDE IS NO LONGER USABLE?

A. Many products have been banned (canceled or suspended) from use or may be unusable because of age, freezing, contamination or other causes. If you have questions about the use, status or condition of a pesticide, contact the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406)-444-5400. Provide the product's name, manufacturer, and U.S. EPA registration number found on the product's label.
 

Q. HOW ARE WASTE PESTICIDES PROPERLY DISPOSED?

A. Because of the inherent hazards associated with most unusable pesticides, disposal at a permitted hazardous waste facility is the appropriate disposal practice. There are licensed hazardous waste companies that can properly dispose of these wastes.  The Montana Department of Agriculture has contracted a licensed hazardous waste company to collect and properly dispose of waste pesticides. One collection per year will take place in one of the three waste pesticide disposal districts in the state of Montana. For more information for When & Where, click here.
 

Q. HOW DOES THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WASTE
PESTICIDE COLLECTION PROGRAM WORK?

A. The basic process for the Montana Department of Agriculture Waste Pesticide Collection
Program is as follows:
• participant pre-registers unusable pesticides and empty metal pesticide containers
with the Montana Department of Agriculture (form available here);
• participant or the participant's designee brings the pre-registered pesticide to the
collection site transported as product - not hazardous waste;
• the pesticide is turned over to a licensed hazardous waste contractor who
assumes ownership of the waste;
• the hazardous waste contractor is responsible for packaging, transport, and
disposal of waste pesticide.

Q. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE AND AT WHAT COST?

A. This voluntary program is designed to serve all pesticide users in the state. Although licensed pesticide applicators are the program's primary clientele, anyone with waste pesticides may apply. Cost to the participant is based on the weight of the waste pesticide and its container. A liquid pesticide weighs about 10 pounds per gallon.
− The minimum charge for disposal of waste pesticides will be $5.00.
− The first 200lbs. are FREE
− $0.50 per pound for additional amounts over 200 pounds.
− The department may elect to accept pesticides that contain dioxin or heavy metals
into the program at a higher fee.  Licensed applicators will receive a monetary credit if they are a participant in the disposal program. The credit will be equal to the portion of the participants licensing fee that was used to fund the disposal program. The credit must be used during the certification period for farm applicators or the licensing period for dealers, commercial applicators, commercial operators and government applicators in which the fee is paid.

Q. WHAT MATERIALS ARE ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE FOR COLLECTION?

A. The program will collect and dispose of most unusable pesticides and metal pesticide containers. Empty plastic pesticide containers, fertilizers, waste oil, paints and any other non-pesticide material will not be accepted.

Q. WHAT ABOUT PESTICIDES WITH A MISSING LABEL OR UNKNOWN
PESTICIDES?

A. Pesticides with a missing label or unknown pesticides can be accepted into the disposal program. In most cases, the hazardous waste contractor can characterize the waste at the collection site. Large volumes of an unknown pesticide may require analysis before acceptance into the collection. The participant should be reasonably sure that the unknown material is a pesticide. Any information about the material should be provided.

Q. WHEN WILL THERE BE A COLLECTION IN MY AREA?

A. In 2012, Waste Pesticide District 2 (Central Montana), will hold collections during the week of September 17-21, 2012. The remaining districts will have the following collections schedule:District 3 (Eastern Montana): 2013; District 1 (Western Montana): 2014.

Q. WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COLLECTION PROGRAM?

A. Contact the Montana Department of Agriculture at 444-5400 or go on-line to the link listed below for more information or to request a waste pesticide registration form. To register pesticides in the program, fill out and return the completed form. The Department may set priorities for the type and amount of pesticides collected under the disposal program based on funding. Information and forms are also available at the MDA web site:
http://agr.mt.gov/pestfert/disposal.asp

Q. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS?

A. The first and most important step is to RINSE CONTAINERS CLEAN AT THE TIME OF USE. Containers that are triple or pressure rinsed at the time of use can usually be legally disposed of in a solid waste landfill. In addition, pouring the rinsate into the spray tank assures that the entire product you paid for is used according to label instructions.

• Metal pesticide containers that have not been properly rinsed can be accepted as waste.
• Empty plastic pesticide containers will not be accepted by this program.

Q. ARE THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS NO LONGER LIABLE ONCE THE
PESTICIDE HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE DISPOSAL PROGRAM?

A. Under the terms of the program rules, the disposal contractor becomes the hazardous waste generator with cradle-to-grave liability for ownership of the waste. In addition, all pesticides accepted will be incinerated at an Environmental Protection Agency licensed facility to reduce possible future pollution liability. These procedures significantly reduce participant liability from future claims, but do not eliminate it completely.

Q. WILL THE DEPARTMENT USE MY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AS A
MEANS TO PROSECUTE FOR ILLEGAL MANAGEMENT OF PESTICIDES?

A. No. The disposal program is a service program designed to remove unusable pesticides from storage and reduce the potential threat to public health and the environment. A person may not be subject to an administrative or judicial penalty or action under Montana Codes Annotated 80-8-111 as a result of participation in the disposal program.