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Farmers are allowed to bury their own seed on their farm to dispose of it, but they cannot compost or burn it, according to MPCA.

April 26, 2022

3 Min Read
hand holding treated corn seed
HANDLE WITH CARE: Treated seed that is not planted is considered an industrial waste and requires proper disposal, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.Paula Mohr

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released an updated guidance paper in early April on proper handling of treated seed that didn’t get planted.

Treated seeds — grain, forage, oil-plant and vegetable — are seeds that have been treated with pesticides or fungicides. A distinctive color is also applied to most treated seeds for identification.

Treated seed must be planted according to the label directions on its packaging. Depending on the label directions, planting may be allowed for crop production, wildlife habitat, erosion or weather protection. There may also be restrictions on planting rate and depth.

Unplanted treated seed

Management of treated seeds that will not be used by planting are considered industrial solid wastes in Minnesota and are regulated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Because of the risk of concentrating the chemicals they are treated with, waste treated seeds in Minnesota may not be:

  • Buried for disposal, except in a permitted solid waste landfill, even if burial is stated as a disposal option on the treated seed label. The exception: Farmers in Minnesota may bury treated seeds from their own farm on the farm property.

  • Composted.

  • Burned, except in a permitted incineration facility. Waste treated seed may not be burned openly, in corn or wood stoves, or in residential or commercial boilers, including by farmers.

  • Used for ethanol, biodiesel, or other fermentation or oil processing, unless specifically approved by the MPCA. Though some treated seed labels still list ethanol production as a management option if no measurable residues of pesticides remain in resulting byproducts used in agronomic practice, the MPCA is not aware of any currently available use that does not raise this risk.

Packaging and equipment

Disposable packaging from treated seed, such as bags, is also considered a regulated solid waste in Minnesota, and may not be buried or burned except in permitted facilities. Farmers who do not need to dispose of any treated seeds may dispose of treated seed bags with their normal solid waste. However, they may not burn any plastic.

Reusable packaging, such as totes and cartons, may be reused with or without rinsing for the same product.

When washing equipment, such as seed treatment equipment, planting equipment, or reusable packaging, the MPCA recommends using only the minimum amount of rinse water necessary. Rinse water may be discharged to a publicly owned treatment works, commonly known as a sewage treatment plant, after notifying the works operator and following any conditions or restrictions the plant applies. Rinse water may also be applied at label rates to a crop for which the active ingredients in the seed treatment are registered. Rinse water may not be allowed to discharge to uncropped ground, surface water or septic systems.

Arranging for proper disposal

Manufacturers, distributors, retailers, farmers and any other person generating waste treated seed and packaging are responsible for arranging for proper disposal of their waste.

A list of Minnesota landfills is available in MPCA fact sheet No. W-SW6-04, Minnesota landfills accepting mixed municipal solid waste.

For more information, see the MPCA fact sheet on treated seeds.

Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all of its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

 

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