Help keep chemicals in check

Proper pesticide disposal is one of those inconvenient chores that often takes a backseat to more urgent tasks. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is encouraging farmers and homeowners to push that task up the to-do list and take advantage of several free collection events starting in March.

At four locations and dates across the state, Missouri DNR will offer an opportunity for safe disposal of unwanted or unusable chemicals. Accepted materials include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, dewormers, fly tags and fertilizer-containing pesticides.

The free drop-off events offer a great opportunity for participants to rid their property of pesticide waste that might otherwise be left abandoned or mishandled. At the collection sites, an approved hazardous waste contractor will take these chemicals and send them to a permitted hazardous waste incineration facility.

Since 2012, the Missouri Pesticide Collection Program has conducted 76 events and disposed of more than 1 million pounds of waste pesticide from 2,425 participants. In 2025, four collection events are scheduled from March through October. All events run from 8 a.m. until noon.

Keep all pesticides in original containers and identify those that are not or with missing labels. Do not mix with other materials, and make sure lids are sealed. If the container is leaking, put it in a larger container with nonflammable absorbent. Secure pesticides upright in a cardboard box and transport in the back of a truck, trailer or car trunk. A contractor will unload the pesticides for you at the collection event.

For more information, call 573-751-0616 or visit dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/pesticide.

Collection Calendar:

•    March 1 – Lockwood, S & H Farm Supply, 7 State Road A

•    April 5 – Shelbina, MFA Agri Services, 215 W. Maple Street

•    Sept. 13 – Farmington, site to be determined

•    Oct. 4 – Chillicothe, Litton Agri-Science Learning Center, 10780 Liv 235