Dispose Of Unwanted Pesticides Through Michigan's Clean Sweep Program

Kalamazoo, Mich.- Do you have leftover grub killer or herbicides sitting in your garage just waiting to be knocked over? If so, then Clean Sweep is for you! Clean Sweep, a program through the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program, Environmental Protection Agency as well as local and state agencies has fifteen established sites across Michigan for pesticide disposal. Beginning in 1987 as a watershed specific program, Clean Sweep grew to have sites across the state by 1996. Over several years, the Clean Sweep program has disposed of over 700,000 pounds or 350 tons of pesticides, eliminating harmful chemicals from endangering Michigan’s lakes, streams, and groundwater.

Who can take advantage of this program? Everyone from farmers to Michigan residents may take unused, out-of-date, and banned pesticides to their local site free of charge and without consequence to be eliminated from the environment. This free program is made possible by funding through national, state and local partnerships, as well as fees paid by pesticide and fertilizer registration fees. Whether you have five gallons of RoundUp or 150 pounds of DDT, Clean Sweep sites will take it. For larger disposals over 150 pounds, an appointment should first be made with the site manager. For pesticide dealers, pesticides may also be disposed of at 20 % of what the normal pesticide disposal fee would be at another site upon the manager’s approval.

In Southwest Michigan, unwanted pesticides may be taken to sites in Berrien, Kalamazoo, Ottawa and Ionia counties. In Kalamazoo County call Tom Dewhirst at 383-8741 for more information on drop off times or to make an appointment. For a more detailed map of Clean Sweep sites, visit www.mich.gov/mda or call Melanie Stoughton, Groundwater Educator for Kalamazoo, Cass and St. Joseph Counties at 383-6429.

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