Pesticide Disposal Resources

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The Issue

Homeowners and farmers sometimes discover old, unusable or “obsolete” pesticides in the shed, garage of cellar. DDT, dioxin-containing 2,4,5-T and compounds of arsenic, mercury or lead all marvels in their day are now banned because of their hazards to human health, wildlife or to the environment. Sometimes pesticides become unusable because they freeze or get damp and solidify. Mainer’s who want to dispose of these wastes in an environmentally sound manner are often discouraged to learn that proper disposal of waste pesticides is prohibitively expensive.

Many pesticides are considered hazardous waste. You should always consult with the pesticide label on disposal instructions. If you find yourself with product that has been improperly stored, has leaks in the container, or that you no longer have a use for, the label will likely tell you to contact a hazardous waste disposal company. In Maine, there are a few options for disposal of pesticides. If you have questions related to disposal of pesticides, contact us at any time.

Options for Pesticide Disposal

There are a few places that accept hazardous waste like pesticides in Maine. Check out the resources below for more information.

Facilities Accepting Hazardous Waste:

• The Environmental Depot in Auburn (AVCOG, 207-783-9186 )
• Riverside Recycling Facility in Portland (207-797-6200)

These facilities serve as collection sites for household hazardous waste from all Maine residents. They are separate facilities from the Maine Board of Pesticides Control. Check their web sites for schedule, hours, and charges. These locations may only accept hazardous waste on specific days.

Annual Events Accepting Hazardous Waste:

• Some towns and municipalities offer household hazardous waste (HHW) programs for their residents. Please contact your Town Office to find out if your town is participating in any household hazardous waste collection events locally. Learn more about household hazardous waste (YouTube).
• Each October, BPC hosts Annual Obsolete Pesticide Collection Events for homeowners, small family-owned farms, and gardeners. If you're looking to get rid of pesticides in the Fall, this option may work well for you. This program is open to all Maine residents. Keep reading below to find out more information about BPC's program.

The Annual Obsolete Pesticide Program

The Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) and the Department of Environmental Protection provide citizens with a responsible, free solution to their obsolete pesticide problem. Once a year, these agencies collect obsolete pesticides brought to sites across Maine. The materials are then shipped to out-of-state disposal facilities. All types of pesticides and adjuvants are accepted, including banned pesticides and pesticides that have become caked, frozen or otherwise rendered unusable. The program is available to homeowners as well as non-corporate farmers and greenhouse operators.

• 2024 Obsolete Pesticides Collection Program Poster (PDF) Programs typically take place once a year in October. Pre-registration is required and collections are held at four sites across the state in Portland, Augusta, Bangor, and Presque Isle. More information about the program may be found below. Event dates, times, and locations are subject to change, and only registered participants will be notified of this information upon acceptance into the program. Registrants may apply at any time, but will typically be contacted about the program in August and September.

If you need to immediately dispose of a pesticide, please contact your local Department of Environmental Protection. Additionally, many local municipalities hold household hazardous waste programs during the summer months where residents may dispose of many different kinds of household hazardous wastes. Contact your local town office to learn more about local events near you. See options for disposal for more information.

The Maine Annual Obsolete Pesticide Program is only offered once per year in October for Maine residents. This program does not accept commercial waste, only pesticides and adjuvants used for homeowners, family-owned farms and nurseries, and gardeners. Commercial entities, including commercial applicators, are responsible for pesticide waste through their own hazardous waste contractor. BPC cannot provide emergency disposal of hazardous waste.

How to Participate

1. Registration Form Instructions (for October 2025)
• Option 1: Online Registration Form: Fill out all of your information on your browser, no downloads or emails needed.
• Option 2: Registration Form as fillable PDF: Open the file, fill in the information, and
• either save it to your hard drive, attach it to an e-mail, and send it to pesticides@maine.gov or
• or print it out, and mail it to the BPC (mailing address on the form)
• Option 3: Registration Form as Word file: Open the file, fill in the information, and
• either save it to your hard drive, attach it to an e-mail, and send it to pesticides@maine.gov or
• or print it out, and mail it to the BPC (mailing address on the form)
• Option 4: Request paper copy:Contact the BPC (207-287-2731, or the e-mail address above) to have a copy of the form mailed to you.
2. On the registration form, identify the common name of the pesticide active ingredients shown on each product’s label. Common names are often listed on the front of the label followed by the chemical name. If the active ingredient is not listed, or is unreadable, please describe the product using the brand name, EPA registration number, or any other identifying information you can find on the label. Unidentified products without labels or markings should also be described in as much detail as possible.
3. Store obsolete pesticides properly until the next annual collection drive. The BPC will contact you several weeks prior to that drive to inform you of your local collection date and location. Can’t make an upcoming drive? No problem...the BPC will keep your name on file for the next collection.
4. After your inventory form is received, the BPC will mail a map and instructions 10 days before your collection date.
5. Bring your obsolete pesticides to the assigned site. Once there, stay in your vehicle and present shipping papers to officials. They will direct you to place obsoletes in an appropriate receptacle.
6. If you are unable to make the October collection, try other options for disposal instead.

Proper Storage Before Collection

Until you are able to take advantage of the collection program, sound storage practice remains the best and only way to prevent an environmental or health crisis from occurring in your backyard.

• Keep pesticides high, dry and locked up away from children and pets.
• Dry materials should be free of moisture, wrapped in heavy duty plastic bags.
• Liquid materials in glass bottles in good condition require no special attention other than to store beyond reach of children.
• Rusting metal cans must be wrapped in plastic bags and placed into rubber or plastic trash containers. Surround wrapped pesticides with kitty litter, newspaper, vermiculite or other absorbent material. Be sure secondary containers have labels identifying contents.
• If a bottle, bag or other container leaks, call the Department of Environmental Protection for advice on proper cleanup.

Transporting Safely

• Dry materials must be wrapped in plastic bags and placed in cardboard cartons or plastic buckets. Liquids must be put into plastic containers with newspaper.
• Never transport pesticides in the cab or interior of your vehicle. Use the truck’s bed or the car’s trunk.
• Be sure to attach labels to containers. Unlabeled materials will not be accepted at the collection site.
• Brace items in your vehicle’s bed or trunk to prevent shifting while en route.
• Cover loads in open-bed trucks in case of rain.
• Sign both copies of the “shipping papers.” Keep one copy in the vehicle and the other on yourself in case an accident requires you leave the vehicle and inform authorities. Note phone numbers for fire and police.
• Drive directly to the pesticide collection site after you load your vehicle.
• Drive carefully, please! You are responsible for any spills and their subsequent clean up and restoration costs.

Prevention

The best way to prevent stockpiling future obsolete pesticides is to buy the right product only in quantities needed to do a given job. Here’s how:

• Know your pest. Not sure? Call the University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Pest Management Office, 800-287-0279.
• Make sure the product you buy controls the pest. If the pest is not listed on a product’s label, the product’s not for you!
• Avoid volume and buy-one-get-one-free promotions. The dollar or two saved today can cost hundreds later in hazardous waste disposal costs. Surplus pesticides can be a storage problem as well.
• Keep products in good condition. Don’t let liquids freeze or moisture damage dry materials.
• Give recently purchased pesticides you no longer need to someone who does. The best way to dispose of a pesticide is to use it according to its labeled directions.

Additional Resources

• Pesticide Lifespan and Storage - UT Extension Agent on Family Plot Garden (YouTube)
• Storing Pesticides Properly - Warren County Cooperative Extension Service (YouTube)
• Pesticide Shelf Life - AgPhD (YouTube)

Who to Call for More Information

University of Maine Cooperative Extension: 800-287-0279
The latest information on pests and pest control recommendations.

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
800-452-4664
Pesticide and other hazardous materials spill response.

Northern New England Poison Center
800-222-1222
24-hour hotline for information on poisoning.

Maine Board of Pesticides Control
207-287-2731
Information on obsolete pesticide disposal or any pesticide matter.