Pesticide Collection Program Makes Gains In 2014

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — An effort by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has kept 58,000 pounds of unwanted and unused pesticides out of the environment.

The department held free collections in 31 counties this summer to offer homeowners, farmers and businesses a way to safely discard old pesticides. In a statement Tuesday, the department says this year's collections marked a 20,000-pound increase from the last round two years ago.

The department's Waste Pesticide Collection Program has collected over 5.5 million pounds of pesticides stateside since it began in 1990. All of the insecticides, fungicides, herbicides and rodenticides turned in are destroyed at an out-of-state incinerator for hazardous waste.

Stan Kaminski, MDA waste pesticide consultant, says continuous funding from pesticide manufacturers has helped make the program one of the most successful in the country.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)