Protecting Our Environment and What to Do With Pesticides
- Monica Sabella
- Apr 16, 2023
- 3 min read
By Monica Sabella - Master Gardener, Journalist
With the season springing into gear, the anticipation of a healthy harvest can drive eager gardeners to do whatever it takes to protect their crops. A quick spray is fast, easy and cheap, but disposing excess chemicals and containers require a little more care and forethought if we want to protect the things we love.
A few drops sit at the bottom of a Miracle Grow container. It’s about five years old, gathering dust on the shelf in the back of your garage and it’s finally time to throw it away. Like the good citizen you are, you dump the bottle in your sink and toss it in the recycling bin. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Sound familiar? The only problem is, those last drops of chemicals are now flowing through the waterways, contaminating the ecosystem before arriving in your neighbor’s cup. While on the way to a landmine, the container gets snatched out of the garbage to be used as a water bottle.
Newton said it first, “Every action has a reaction.” It’s for that reason, it’s vital to the health of our communities and the environment to be mindful of where we dispose pesticides, herbicides and fungicides when we’re done. Here are some good practices and tips to add to your tool belt and prepare you for this growing season.
While stocking up for your spring and summer needs, it’s good to remember chemical efficacy is based on timeliness. The sooner you use it, the stronger it will be. According to Michigan State University, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides have a two year shelf-life, unless otherwise stated on the label. So as tempting as a sale sticker may be, bargain hunters should avoid buying in bulk when shopping for chemicals.
While out shopping, you’ll also want to grab some disposable gloves and a pair of goggles to reduce skin exposure to harmful chemicals. A disposable coverall would also be helpful, especially in the case of spills, although it’s not always necessary.
When mixing chemicals less is more. Start by making a small batch, following the instructions found on the label. If you do have extra, ask your neighbors or reach out to a community garden to see if they can use your leftovers. During the process, if a spill occurs, use kitty litter to absorb the liquids and while wearing proper protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, goggles, and plastic coveralls before cleaning up the mess. The litter, your disposable gloves and coveralls should be gathered for joint removal.
Although some pesticide containers are recyclable, always check the labels before doing so and punch holes in the container to prevent reuse. Burning pesticide containers on your property is illegal in Michigan.
When cleaning, never dump excess chemicals on the ground, into or near storm drains, water, or septic tanks. It can poison the ground water, fish or animals that live in and around the area as well as the waterways. Local water systems are not equipped to filter out fine pesticides and it can easily stay to pollute our drinking water.
To safely dispose of those last drops of Miracle Grow we talked about, you’ll want to dilute them by adding roughly 20% of water to the container. Close and swish the liquids around in multiple directions. Collect the rinsate and repeat a total of three times. The rinsate can be added to your pickup with any used gloves, coveralls or containers leftover from the season’s chemical sprays.
Now it’s finally time to make the call. Everything is sprayed, you’ve contacted your neighbors, cleaned up litter and still have chemicals in your garage. Now what?
Michigan is a leader in agriculture, producing the most asparagus, black and cranberry beans, cucumbers, tart cherries, niagara grapes and squash in the U.S. Thankfully, with that title comes a number state-funded resources for proper pesticide removal.
In 1996, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MDARD) introduced Michigan Clean Sweep Program to prevent agriculture pollution. It has since successfully and properly removed over 3.3 million pounds (1650 tons) of pesticides from circulation. These services are free to residents and businesses and perfect for agribusinesses, greenhouses, nurseries, and golf courses.
Both the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) and the Association of American Pesticide Officials (AAPCO) offer a list of other alternative options which are either free or affordable for gardeners around the state. Small amounts can sometimes be brought in and dropped off at local offices, while others require an appointment to allow for proper staffing and removal. However, solid waste agencies also offer chemical removal if free pickups are not available in your county.
Like anything, there are pros and cons to using synthetic pesticides in your garden. The benefits can yield a strong, health harvest. The clean up may seem tedious, but it’s important to protect our environment, our loved ones and the surrounding ecosystem to keep it safe for generations to come.
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