Clean Sweep Pesticide Collection Event Set For Next Week

fertilizer-safe
fertilizer-safe

A Clean Sweep Pesticide Collection event is planned for next Wednesday in Benton Harbor. Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams tells WSJM News Clean Sweep events are a chance for farmers and anyone else with unwanted pesticides to dispose of them safely. They’ll take “cides,” or fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides. Fertilizers are not included. Adams says they collect around 20,000 pounds of these materials each year.

“Most of the stuff that comes in, it might have been sitting out for a number of winters, so it’s frozen and then thawed a number of times, or its expiration date has been passed,” Adams said. “We have a lot of material that comes in that is actually banned from being sold in the U.S. anymore that might have been sitting in someone’s barn for decades or even generations.”

Adams says next week’s event will be done by appointment, and you must register in advance. The registration deadline is this Friday. the registration page is right here. The events are grant-funded and ensure hazardous materials don’t wind up in the environment. The drop off site will be the Berrien County Road Department property in Benton Harbor.