PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s (SDDA) waste pesticide disposal program has topped the one million pound mark since the program began in 1993.
This year SDDA staff collected over 128,000 pounds of waste pesticide, putting the program over the one million pounds collected mark over the life of program.
SDDA pesticide container recycling and unusable pesticide disposal specialist Charles (Spike) King says, “The waste pesticide disposal is the preferred way to dispose of pesticides at no cost to the farmer, rancher or agribusiness. The program has grown from about 31,000 pounds collected in 1993 to the over 128,000 pounds collected this year, bringing the total lifetime collection to 1,096,606 pounds. We work with a company to incinerate the chemicals to ensure they are properly discarded.”
SDDA also collects five gallon and smaller plastic pesticide containers, plastic drums and totes that are ground up to ensure they are properly recycled. Often the plastic is reused to make drain tiles, speed bumps, or fence posts or for other agricultural uses.
Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
— South Dakota Department of Agriculture
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