More than 260 tons of unusable or unwanted pesticides were collected in North Dakota during the annual Project Safe Send drive.

“This year’s total eclipses the previous record of 190 tons in 2015,” says Doug Goehring, North Dakota agriculture commissioner. “More than 350 North Dakota farmers, ranchers, applicators, homeowners and others took part in the collections.”

Goehring says the amount collected demonstrate a continued need for the Project Safe Send, which enables people to safely and affordably get rid of unusable, unneeded or unwanted pesticides.

The collections were conducted during July in the following 12 communities: Ashley, Bismarck, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Harvey, Hettinger, Langdon, Larimore, Minot, Tioga, Valley City, Wyndmere.

Larimore collected the most at 126,980 pounds. Valley City was second with 65,998 pounds.

Veolia Environmental Services, Blaine, Minn., collected, packaged and transported the waste chemicals to out-of-state incinerators.

Project Safe Send is funded by pesticide manufacturers through North Dakota product registration fees.

“Project Safe Send is a recognized model as a means for the public to safely get rid of these chemicals and help ensure a healthy environment,” Goehring says. “The need for this program will continue, as more people learn how it benefits them and as more pesticides become obsolete and are no longer usable for current applications.”

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