Farmers living in or near 10 BC Interior communities will be able to dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and outdated livestock medications that have accumulated at their farms at special collection events that are being held at designated locations beginning Monday, October 15.
The events have been organized by Cleanfarms, a Canadian non-profit organization that delivers recycling and disposal solutions that help farmers and their communities safely manage farm waste.
Collection events are scheduled in the following locations:
October 15
- Vanderhoof – Glen Dale Agra, 1055 Hwy 16 West
- Kamloops – Purity Feed Ltd., 471 Okanagan Way
October 16
- Prince George – Foothills Landfill, 6595 Foothills Blvd.
- Vernon – Grower's Supply, 1200 Waddington Drive
October 17
- Quesnel – Four Rivers Co-op, 1280 Quesnel-Hixon Road
- Kelowna – Grower's Supply, 2605 Acland Road
October 18
- William's Lake – 153 Mile Fertilizer, #80 5101 Frizzi Road
- Oliver – Grower's Supply, 5911 Sawmill Road
October 30
- Cranbrook – Top Garden, 2101 Cranbrook Street North
October 31
- Creston – Grower's Supply, 754 35th Ave., South
Cleanfarms will accept materials at the events at no charge and will dispose of the materials collected safely and responsibly. Each special collection event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:
- old or unwanted agricultural pesticides (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label), and
- livestock medications that are used in the rearing of animals in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number or Pest Control Product number on the label.
The program will not accept:
- fertilizer, diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product, and treated seed
- needles/sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises
- disinfectants/sanitizers, veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
- any other household hazardous waste.
The program is funded by the crop protection industry and the Canadian Animal Health Institute and operated by Cleanfarms. An environmental stewardship organization, Cleanfarms works collaboratively with industry members, agricultural organizations and associations, and the government to ensure that Canadian farmers have opportunities to manage agricultural waste responsibly. Last year, Cleanfarms collected 22,832 kg of unwanted pesticides and 1,470 kg of livestock and equine medications from farmers in British Columbia.
Questions about whether a product fits the scope of acceptable materials in this collection can be directed to 877-622-4460 or email Cleanfarms at info@cleanfarms.ca
Following this 2018 collection, the program will return to BC's Peace River region in 2019 and to Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley region in 2020. Cleanfarms asks that farmers store unwanted pesticides and old livestock medications safely until Cleanfarms' collection comes back to their region.
For more information:
www.cleanfarms.ca