A total of 120 containers with 1,589 pounds of pesticides were collected and safely disposed of in a recent pesticide disposal event held by North Carolina Cooperative Extension and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS).

Agricultural Extension agents Jody Carpenter from Currituck and Austin Brown from Camden met with NCDA&CS representatives at Crop Production Services in Shawboro where the goal was to collect unused and out-dated pesticides from farmers in the two counties.

Pesticides are important tools for farmers that help limit damage from weeds, insects and disease. But, many times excess or unused pesticides sit idly by, which is why programs such as the recent disposal program exist.

These pesticides must be properly disposed of, not buried in a landfill, and if not disposed of properly can be a non-point pollution source that can lead to adverse environmental effects.

One of the priorities of Cooperative Extension is the safety and security of farming systems, and facilitating safe pesticide disposal is a top way to promote that priority.

For more information about other agriculture related services available through Extension, contact Carpenter at Currituck’s Extension Center at 252-232-2262.