With large numbers of garden pesticides already withdrawn from
the UK market, and more scheduled to go, Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN
UK) are concerned that householders dispose of these products
safely.
Roslyn McKendry of PAN UK said ‘Pesticides can
damage the environment if disposed of carelessly. Disposal down drains or in the
wheelie bin (dustbin) contaminates water and land, and it is vital that
householders dispose of these products safely.’
However, householders using these products have limited advice on how to safely
dispose of unwanted or banned pesticides. Now a new database, compiled by PAN UK
provides a resource to help gardeners and householders locate their nearest
pesticide disposal site. Many local authorities provide chemical safes for
disposal of hazardous chemicals at household waste sites. Others may provide a
door-to-door collection service. Previously there was no centralised information
about disposal facilities with many local authority professionals even unaware
of their responsibilities or the disposal services offered by their own
authority.
The new database is available online at www.pesticidedisposal.org.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 64, June 2004, page 22]