Source: NCDA&CS, 9/9/19

The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services urges farmers and homeowners to evaluate pesticides and other chemical storage areas when cleaning up from Hurricane Dorian.

“If your pesticide or fertilizer storage area was underwater because of flooding or if there was structural damage due to high winds or tornadoes, materials could be damaged, leaked or spilled,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “There are ways to safely handle and remove these chemicals. Do not mix chemicals when cleaning up due to potential reactions. A good rule of thumb is to keep solids separate from liquids and keep unlike chemicals separate.”

Listed below are guidelines to follow when cleaning up chemicals.
• Safety: If you suspect your pesticide storage area has storm damage, use caution in investigating the area. Wear personal protective equipment such as chemical-resistant gloves, rubber boots, protective clothing and eyewear.
• Assess the area and contain the spread: Evaluate and identify the problem areas and use absorbent materials to contain the spread of the spill.
• Cleanup: After stabilizing the area, begin cleaning it up. It is important that cleanup be prompt, but also safe. Things to consider include identifying a place to temporarily store the damaged material before ultimate disposal and plans for how to dispose of the pesticides. Make sure this temporary site meets proper pesticide storage regulations and keeps products out of the weather. Do not load all chemicals into one bin or container. This could not only create safety concerns and adverse chemical reactions, it could create response delays and increase disposal cost.

The NCDA&CS Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program will provide information and assistance with material disposal. Information on PDAP is online at www.ncagr.gov/PDAP, or email questions to derrick.bell@ncagr.gov or call 919-280-1061. When contacting by email or phone, please provide the following information: Contact name, county where the material is located, best contact phone number and, if possible, an inventory of products needing disposal.

The Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program is paid for through funding from the General Assembly and the Pesticide Environmental Trust Fund. This trust fund receives money from registration fees that companies pay on pesticide products sold in the state. In the past three years, the program has collected an average of 194,000 pounds of pesticides each year. More than 4 million pounds of pesticides have been collected through the program since its inception in 1980.