Obsolete pesticide collection campaign comes to the Peace Region

ETOBICOKE, ON, Aug. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Farmers in the Peace Region can now safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted or obsolete agricultural pesticides.

CleanFARMS, an industry-led national not-for-profit agricultural waste management organization, is heading the collection campaign, which will take place at two locations from Aug. 20 through to Aug. 31.

"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 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 from Aug. 20 through Aug. 31:

• Viterra, 9704 78 Street, Fort St John, B.C.
• Viterra, 1-684 213 Road, Dawson Creek, B.C.

Additional collections in British Columbia will also be held this fall in the Okanagan and Interior.

SOURCE: CleanFARMS(R)

For more information, visit www.cleanfarms.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin O'Hara
613-230-9881
[email protected]