Nova Scotia farmers are invited to safely dispose of their obsolete pesticides and livestock medications

HALIFAX, Nov. 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Nova Scotia farmers are invited to safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted or obsolete pesticides and livestock (including equine) medications from November 2-13.

CleanFARMS, an industry-led, national not-for-profit agricultural waste management organization, in partnership with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), is offering this program at no cost to farmers.

"Farmers in Nova Scotia are environmentally conscious and pleased to participate in this program," said Chris van den Heuvel, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. "The CleanFARMS collection program provides an excellent one-stop service for Nova Scotia farmers to continue to protect the environment."

Farmers in Nova Scotia have a long history of good stewardship practices. Since 1998, Nova Scotia farmers have turned in more than 60,000 kilograms of obsolete pesticides. This year is the first time livestock and equine medications will be collected in Nova Scotia.

"Collections in Nova Scotia have been very successful in the past," said Barry Friesen, general manager of CleanFARMS. "Nova Scotia farmers are committed to protecting the environment and are good stewards of their land."

After collection, the pesticides and medications are taken to a licensed waste management facility where they are disposed of through high temperature incineration.

The following locations will be accepting obsolete pesticides and livestock/equine medications from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the dates specified:

• Truro Agromart, located at 547 Onslow Road in Truro
• Scotia Gold Coop, located at 7027 Highway 1 in Coldbrook
• Halifax Seed Co Inc., located at 5860 Kane Street in Halifax
• Amherst Coop, located at 17 Lawrence Street in Amherst
• Bridgewater Farmers Coop, located at 123 Elm Street in Bridgewater
• Bragg Lumber Co., located at 99 Bragg Road in Collingwood
• Cavendish Agri Services, located at 1205 Highway 359 in Steam Mills
• Cavendish Agri Services, located at 14062 Highway 1 in Wilmont
• Cavendish Agri Services, located at 38 Wade Road in Truro
• Antigonish Farm and Garden Coop, located at 91 Saint Andrews Street in Antigonish
• Corridor Coop, located at 2289 Highway 2 in Milford Station
• United Farmers Coop, located at 502 Keltic Drive in Sydney

The obsolete pesticide and livestock/equine medication collection program is a national program that comes to each province on a three-year rotating basis. In between collections periods, farmers are asked to safely store their unwanted pesticides and livestock medications until they can properly dispose of them through the program.

SOURCE CleanFARMS Inc.

Erin O'Hara, Media Relations, [email protected], 613-230-9881 x3223