4971
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
May 1977
Safe Storage
and Disposal
of Pesticides
OPA778
DANGER) PELIGRO
POISON STORAGE AREA
ALL UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS
KEEP OUT
AREA PELIGRO$A{«0)
TOW PERSONA NO AUTORIZADA
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pesticides are vital products from which you benefit every
' day, though you may not always realize it Your food, your
water, your home—all are protected by them Pesticides are
used to combat problems such as destruction of forests by
gypsy moths, strangulation of lakes by algae, and spread of
disease by mosquitoes
Beneficial as they are, these compounds can be harmful
when not handled properly For this reason, the manufacture,
sale, and use of pesticides are regulated by the Federal
Government under a law called the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended.
Section 19 of the amended FIFRA deals with storage and
disposal of pesticides and their containers It requires the U S
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish safe
guidelines and regulations. The purpose of this pamphlet is to
tell you, the pesticide user, about them. They have been
developed by agricultural, industrial, and environmental
scientists and represent the best and most practical
procedures now available
The guidelines cover the disposal and storage of the
pesticide product itself as well, as any unused mixture or
excess product and residues in empty containers or spray
tanks, the handling of liquid used in rinsing containers or
cleaning equipment and work areas, and pesticide-derived
wastes from manufacturing or processing, which must be
disposed of separately from other wastes The guidelines also
cover disposal of containers, which include any material
used to enclose pesticides except reusable spray tanks
If you are a pesticide user—particularly if you are a farmer,
rancher, commercial applicator, or other large-scale user—or
if you are a manufacturer, or Federal, State, or local official,
please read this pamphlet carefully. The practices described
here can help you avoid costly, often tragic mishaps
The EPA guidelines contained here must be followed by
agencies of the Federal Government, but it is hoped that
everyone who reads this pamphlet will use them A small
investment of time and effort will bring a worthwhile return
After all, a safe and productive environment is everyone's
business
Some of the practices call for special facilities or
technology with which you may not be familiar If you need
more information or further details, the last page of this
pamphlet contains a list of places to contact
You should also be aware that many States and localities
have stricter regulations than the practices recommended
here If in doubt, check with your local authorities to be sure
you don't violate any laws
1
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Some Key Points
to Remember
Read and follow instructions on labels carefully.
Pesticide labels must provide full instructions on
disposal and storage. All of them will, when
pesticides are reregistered under the amended
FIFRA. Those instructions must be followed—that's
the law.
• Use up all your pesticides according to label
directions. For example, apply everything you mix.
Use rinse liquids to prepare new batches of the same
pesticide.
• If you can't use all of your undiluted spray
materials, try to return them to your dealer. He may
be able to dispose of them or ship them back to the
manufacturer for processing.
• Always triple-rinse containers. This is generally
acknowledged to be a very effective cleaning and
safety practice.
• Try to return triple-rinsed containers to your
dealer for reuse or reconditioning. Don't ever reuse
them yourself. Your area may have an approved
landfill that will accept triple-rinsed containers.
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Disposal
I f you can't use all your pesticides or return them to your
1 dealer, you may be able to apply one of the alternatives
described below They are presented in general order of
desirability However, not all are suitable for all types of
pesticides or for all conditions, so be sure to take note of
any exceptions
Incineration. The most effective disposal method is
incineration—but only at a State approved facility that can
maintain the required temperature for the time needed for
complete destruction. (Most municipal and private
incinerators don't qualify.) A list of facilities can be
obtained by contacting your EPA Regional Office You can
burn most pesticides in an approved incinerator
Exceptions are pesticides containing certain metals, such
as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium, beryllium, or
selenium, and those containing inorganic substances
such as copper sulfate and sodium arsenite. Instead of
being burned, they should be treated or encapsulated and
placed in a specially designated landfill (see below)
(There are procedures available in a few areas for
removing metals from metallo-organic pesticides to render
them suitable for incineration. Check with your EPA
Regional Office tor more information )
Finally, NEVER BURN A PESTICIDE YOURSELF
Burial. If no approved incinerator is available in your area,
pesticides should be taken to a specially designated
landfill for disposal These have been approved by a State
Incinerator
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or local agency specifically for pesticide disposal Their
locations can be obtained by contacting your EPA
Regional Office. Almost all pesticides can be buried at
these sites, but those containing certain metals or
inorganic substances must be encapsulated first.
Encapsulation means enclosing the pesticide and
container in a material impervious to the pesticide
chemicals and then enclosing them again in a container
Such as concrete or steel that will not be damaged by
dumping, burial, or storage.
, In all cases of burial, make sure a record is kept of the
specific spot where the pesticide is buried
¥
Soil injection and chemical degradation.There are two
Sther possible disposal practices if incinerators or
specially designated landfills are not available soil
injection and chemical degradation Soil injection basically
means the incorporation of pesticides into the soil plow
Ifeyer Chemical degradation refers to the subjecting of
pesticides to chemical processes which cause them to
degrade into non-toxic substances Before attempting
these procedures, however, you should seek specific
guidance and advice from the EPA Regional Office in your
area
If you are unable to apply any of the above alternatives,
store pesticides and containers under proper conditions
(see Storage) until disposal facilities do become available
Landfill disposal
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Rinsing
Em >ty container
intc spray tank;
dra n in vertical
position 30
secDnds.
Ref II container
untl 10% full;
rinse thorough!)
poi r into tank,
dra n.
Rinse and drain
container
twice more.
Add fluid to
bring spray tank
up to level.
-V
Crush containe
for recycling
or burying.
Drums can be
reconditioned.
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Container
Disposal
Empty pesticide containers are seldom completely free
of pesticides, so they must be disposed of just as
carefully as pesticides themselves
Fortunately, most containers can be largely
decontaminated by triple-rinsing, so you are strongly
urged to do so Don't forget to use or dispose of rinse liquids
properly
Use them to make new batches of pesticide, or dispose of
them as you would unmixed pesticide Triple-rinsed
containers may be returned to your dealer or to a drum
reconditioner for reuse, or to a scrap dealer for recycling,
or placed in an approved sanitary landfill
WARNING
NEVER REUSE ANY PESTICIDE CONTAINER YOURSELF
If none of the above is possible, you may be able to
apply one of the following practices, listed in general order
of desirability Take note of any exceptions
Empty combustible containers can be incinerated in a
specially approved facility If none is available, the
containers can be buried at a specially designated landfill
approved for disposal of pesticides If such a facility is not
available, containers can be buried at an approved land
disposal site
There are two alternatives suggested primarily for
ranchers and farmers Combustible containers except
those formerly containing lead, mercury, arsenic, or
cadmium can be open-field burned where State or local
ordinances permit At no time, however, should more than
50 pounds of empty combustible containers be burned at
one time The site should be isolated and downwind of
populated areas Single containers can be open-field
buried only if water sources will not be contaminated
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Storage
I et common sense be your guide to safe storage of
*— pesticides and containers Here are a few guidelines to
follow
• Siting is a key factor Avoid places where flooding is
possible Make sure water sources won't be contaminated
and drainage is adequate Wind directions should also be
considered
• Structures ought to be dry, well-ventilated, easily
accessible, designed to prevent fire, and separated from
other structures or rooms which may contain food or feed
Post the area with warning signs and prevent unauthorized
entry Space and facilities need to be provided for
decontamination of people and equipment
• Your operating procedures should include maintenance
of complete and up-to-date records, regular inspection of
containers, advance planning and materials for dealing
with spills, and regular inspection and monitoring of the
surrounding area to detect contamination Where large
quantities of pesticides are stored it is a good idea to
provide police, fire, and public health departments with a
floor plan and records on the location and nature of
pesticides and containers
• It is sometimes necessary to store pesticides in a
temporary location To the extent possible, apply the same
practices as for long-term storage In addition, you should
store only the amount needed for a single day's
application, and only for the period immediately preceding
use
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The Don'ts
ertain disposal and storage practices are so
obviously hazardous they should be avoided as a
matter of course. For example:
• Don't open burn, except as described on p.3
• Don't open dump under any circumstances.
• Don't dump in lakes, ponds, rivers, and sewers.
• Avoid deep well injection, unless extensive testing
has been conducted to determine that no environ-
mental hazard exists and the State and EPA approve.
• Don't store in such a way that food for animals or
humans or food packaging materials could be
contaminated.
• Avoid open storage that presents an environmen-
tal hazard.
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EPA will review and revise the guidelines as
necessary In some cases guidelines may become
regulations you will have to follow When changes
occur, they will be publicized It is advisable to check
periodically with EPA for current developments
For questions on the contents of this pamphlet call
your EPA Regional Office
States covered
EPA Region 1
John F Kennedy Federal Building
Boston Massachusetts 02203
(617) 223-5775
EPA Region 2
26 Federal Plaza
New York N Y 10007
(212) 264-0503
EPA Region 3
6th & Walnut Streets
Philadelphia Pa 19106
(215) 597-0982
EPA Region 4
345 Courtland St NE
Atlanta Georgia 30308
(404) 881-3016
EPA Region 5
230 S Dearborn
Chicago Illinois 60604
(312) 353-2197
EPA Region 6
1201 Elm Street
Dallas Texas 75270
(214) 749-7601
EPA Region 7
1735 Baltimore Avenue
Kansas City Mo 64108
(816) 374-3307
EPA Region 8
1860 Lincoln Street
Denver Colorado 80203
(303) 837-2221
EPA Region 9
100 California Street
San Francisco Calif 94111
(415) 556-4606
EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle Washington 98101
(206) 442-1260
or
Connecticut Maine
Massachusetts New Hampshir
Rhode Island Vermont
New Jersey New York
Puerto Rico Virgin Islands
Delawate Maryland Pennsylvania
Virginia West Virginia
District of Columbia
Alabama Georgia Florida
Mississippi North Carolina South
Carolina Tennessee Kentucky
Illinois Indiana Ohio
Michigan Wisconsin Minnesota
Arkansas Louisiana Oklahoma
Texas New Mexico
Iowa Kansas Missouri
Nebraska
Colorado Utah
Wyoming Montana
North Dakota South Dakota
Arizona California
Nevada Hawaii
Alaska Idaho Oregon
Washington
U S Environmental Protection Agency
HSr^rwaL^r^l,^}^^^! Protection Agency
^CJf^ c Wo" 5, Library (PL-12.fr ' - ^ - -•- "
77 West Jackson Boulevard 12th Floor
Chicago, II 60604-3590 <"
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Public Affairs
Washington D C 20460
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