Obsolete pesticide collection campaign comes to the Interior, Kootenay and Okanagan regions

ETOBICOKE, ON, Oct. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - Farmers in the Interior, Kootenay and Okanagan regions of British Columbia can safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides through a collection program this fall.

CleanFARMS, an industry-led national not-for-profit agricultural waste management organization, is heading the collection campaign, which will take place at a number of sites on various dates ranging from Oct. 15 to Nov. 1. A successful collection was held earlier this summer in the Peace Region, which is part of a two-year program covering the entire province.

"This program offers farmers the chance to responsibly dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides free of charge. It's good for farmers and it's good for the environment," says Barry Friesen, general manager of CleanFARMS.

British Columbia farmers have demonstrated their commitment to good environmental stewardship over the years. Since 1998 they've returned more than 226,000 kilograms of obsolete pesticides in the province. After collection, the pesticides are taken to a licensed waste management facility where they are disposed of through high temperature incineration.

Co-funders of the program, the BC Agriculture Council (BCAC), through the Agriculture Environment and Wildlife Fund of the BC Investment Agriculture Foundation, welcomed the opportunity to participate in this initiative.

"We're pleased to support and be part of this program as it offers a tremendous service to farmers and plays an important role in protecting the environment for all British Columbians," says Greg Norton, Chair of the BCAC Agriculture Environment Initiatives Management Committee.

Farmers are invited to return all of their obsolete or unwanted agricultural pesticides in a secure container with the label attached. This program is strictly for agricultural pesticides; adjuvents, treated seed, paint, solvents and domestic pesticides will not be accepted.

Collections will take place at the following locations on the dates noted:

Interior Region
Oct. 15 - Smithers - Bulkley Valley Fair Grounds, 2701 Pacific St.
Oct. 16 - Vanderhoof - Vanderhoof Co-op, 188 Stewart St. East
Oct. 17 - Prince George - Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill, 6595 Foothills Blvd.
Oct. 18 - North Cariboo Growers Co-op, 1280 Quesnel Hixon Rd.
Oct. 19 - Williams Lake - 153 Mile Fertilizer Sales Ltd., 5101 Frizzi Rd.
Oct. 23 - Pemberton - Pemberton Transfer Station, 1947 Carpenter Rd.

Okanagan Region
Oct. 23 - Kamloops - Purity Feeds , 471 Okanagan Way
Oct. 24 - Vernon - Growers Supply Company Ltd., 1200 Waddington Rd.
Oct. 25 - Kelowna - Growers Supply Company Ltd., 2605 Acland Rd.
Oct. 26 - Oliver - Growers Supply Company Ltd., 5911 Sawmill Rd.

Kootenay Region
Oct. 31 - Creston - Truscott Farms, 3016 Hwy 3
Nov. 1 - Cranbrook - Top Crop Garden, Farm & Pet, 2101 Cranbrook St. North

For more information, visit www.cleanfarms.ca.

SOURCE: CleanFARMS(R)

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Erin O'Hara
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