News Release
Farmers encouraged to drop off obsolete pesticides, animal health products and used sharps
For immediate release
Guelph, ON, July 24, 2009 – A well-established obsolete pesticide collection program is being expanded this year to also provide farmers with safe disposal for unused animal health products and sharps. This first-of-its-kind program is taking place this fall as part of an Ontario government-supported Great Lakes Basin water quality initiative that offers farmers a way to recycle these items.
As part of this project, farmers will be able to bring their obsolete pesticides, unused animal health products and used sharps (needles, syringes and scalpel blades) to a series of 16 collection sites across the province for safe and environmentally responsible disposal October 20 – 22, 2009. The service is free of charge.
“We are pleased to be able to provide this free service to farmers this year as a way of better protecting the environment and our water quality,” says Lilian Schaer, Projects Manager with AGCare, the organization leading the program. “This is the first time we are offering collection for all of these products together and we are encouraging farmers to participate.”
“Our industry has a deep commitment to sound stewardship practices and CropLife Canada is pleased that our obsolete collection program is being expanded to help farmers dispose of more items than ever before,” said Dr. Lorne Hepworth, president of CropLife Canada.
Pesticide collection programs have been run in Canada by CropLife Canada since 1998 under the CleanFARMSTM banner. More than 270,000 kilograms of obsolete product have been collected in Ontario during previous collection campaigns in 2001 and 2005. A pilot project collecting just animal health products and used sharps was held at six collection sites in Ontario last fall. This year’s expanded program is being run on a trial basis in conjunction with a feasibility study looking at long term, sustainable collection options.
“Farmers are responsible environmental stewards who are committed to protecting our water and our land,” says Schaer. “Water quality is important to all Ontarians, but especially to farmers, who depend on it for their lives and their livelihoods.”
This program is co-ordinated by AGCare with financial support from CropLife Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Other project partners include Ontario Farm Animal Council, Canadian Animal Health Institute, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and Ontario Agri Business Association. For more information, visit www.agcare.org or www.ofac.org.
-30-
For more information:
Lilian Schaer, AGCare – 519-212-9559, lschaer@agcare.org
Nadine Sisk, CropLife Canada – 613-230-9881, ext 3224, siskn@croplife.ca
Questions and Answers about the CleanFARMSTM
Ontario 2009 collection program
**************************
What can I bring in and drop off at the collection site?
Collection sites will accept obsolete pesticide products, used sharps (needles, syringes, scalpel blades) and unused animal health products.
Agricultural pesticide products will be accepted at collection sites. Pesticide products should have a PCP number on the container, although in cases where the label is no longer present or it is unknown which particular pesticide was in the container, the product should be labeled “pesticide unknown” when it is brought to a collection site.
Acceptable animal health products should have a label that contains a Drug Identification Number (DIN). Animal biologicals are regulated in a different manner and will not have a DIN but are still acceptable. These products will say “vaccine, bacterin, toxoid, antitoxin, antibody or diagnostic” on them. They will also have somewhere on their label “Serial Number”, “Ser. No.” or “Ser.” rather than the DIN. They should also have something that says “Canadian Veterinary Biologics Establishment License No.” or “Can. Vet. Biol. Estab. Lic. No.” or “United States Veterinary Biologics Establishment License No.” or “US Vet. Boil. Est. Lic. No.”. Collection sites may also encounter non-Canadian licensed animal health products. Acceptable items from the United States will have a NADA number on their label.
We will not accept medicated feed, premise disinfectants, or pesticides and animal health products in aerosol containers. We also will not accept any household or human use items. Sharps must be brought in a closed container. Ziploc bags are not acceptable. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT LOOSE SHARPS!
Who is eligible to participate? How much may I bring in?
All farmers may participate in the program as along as the products you are bringing in meet the requirements listed above. You may bring in as much product as you like but please remember that the program is run on a first come, first serve basis. We will collect product until our secure storage totes are full. If you know in advance that you will have a large volume of product to bring in, please contact us at 519-837-1326 so that we can make appropriate arrangements for additional collection boxes.
Is there a cost?
There is no cost to participate in the 2009 CleanFARMSTM collection program. The funding for this particular program is provided by the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem and by CropLife Canada. Future funding models are being evaluated through a feasibility study being conducted in Ontario this year that is examining options for long term, sustainable collection and disposal systems.
How can I bring product in?
Sharps can be brought in a special sharps container or in your own sealed storage containers. They will be deposited into secure sharps collection totes at the depot. DO NOT BRING IN LOOSE SHARPS AS WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM.
Unused animal health products or obsolete pesticide products can be brought to a collection site in their original containers – you do not need to repackage them for collection. Product brought in with a damaged or hard to understand labels will be accepted if it is an animal health product or pesticide.
What happens if I bring something you don’t accept?
The collection sites will only accept distinguishable pesticide products, animal health products and sharps. All other products will not be accepted. Please contact your municipality about their Hazardous Waste Days so that these products can be disposed of safely.
Why should I bring in obsolete pesticides, animal health products and used sharps?
The Great Lakes are the largest fresh water ecosystem in the world and contain 20 per cent of the world’s fresh surface water. Eight million Ontarians depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water and the entire Great Lakes Basin supports 25 per cent of Canada’s agricultural production.
Proper disposal helps safeguard your health and that of your family, the health of your livestock and crops, as well as overall public health and safety. By protecting water sources, you’re also helping to protect wildlife habitats, environmental resources and sensitive ecosystems.
Animals should not be treated with expired medications. Product stability and potency may be compromised in product that has expired and may not be effective in the animal as per the label claim. Proper disposal of expired or unused animal medications and sharps is important in helping to prevent the potential for ground and surface water contamination.
Why is this program only being offered this year?
Pesticide collection programs have been run in Canada by CropLife Canada under the CleanFARMSTM banner since 1998. More than 270,000 kilograms of obsolete product have been collected in Ontario during two campaigns in 2001 and 2005. Nationally, CropLife has safely collected and disposed of more than 2.5 million kilograms of product. A pilot project collecting just animal health products and used sharps was held at six collection sites in Ontario last fall.
This year marks the first time that the program has been expanded to include unused and expired animal health products and used sharps. This is being done on a trial basis in conjunction with a feasibility study that is looking at long term, sustainable collection options.
What about veterinary clinics?
This collection program is being run at 16 specific collection sites across Ontario. Veterinary clinics are not part of this collection program and are not accepting products.
When is the collection and at what locations?
The program will run October 20 – 22 at the following locations during their respective business hours:
• Ailsa Craig: Hensall District Co-operative, 116 Main Street
• Arnprior: M&R Feeds and Farm Supply Ltd., 70 Decosta Street
• Bethany: Thompsons Limited, 9 Elevator Road
• Brodhagen: Hoegy’s Farm Supply Ltd., 6777 Perth Line 44
• Courtland: Cargill AgHorizons, 159 Talbot Street
• Dundalk: Huron Bay Co-operative, 35 Dundalk Street
• Harriston: North Wellington Co-operative Services Inc., 56 Margaret Street South
• Jordan Station: Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd., 4150 Jordan Road
• Kitchener: GROWMARK Inc. – Distribution Centre, 1 Chandaria Place, Unit 7
• Lancaster: Munro’s Agromart Ltd., 6011 Hwy #34
• Napanee: O’Neill’s Farm Supply, 1 Dairy Avenue
• Thornloe: Co-op Regionale – Temiskaming Ag Centre, 964027 Development Road, New Liskeard
• Orangeville: Holmes Agro Ltd., 473088 County Road 11
• Thunder Bay: Thunder Bay Co-op Farm Supply, 560 Boundary Drive
• Tilbury: Cargill AgHorizons, 23404 Wheatley Road
• Vienna: Max Underhill’s Farm Supply Ltd., 56532 Calton Line
There will be designated volunteers available at each site during the collection period to receive product and answer questions. In advance of the collection days, please contact AGCare or OMAFRA for more information. Site staff will be keeping track of the types and volumes of products brought in but will not be collecting personal information from anyone dropping off product.
Who is running this project?
This particular collection program is co-ordinated by AGCare with financial support from CropLife Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Other project partners include Ontario Farm Animal Council, Canadian Animal Health Institute, Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and Ontario Agri Business Association.
Where do I get more information?
• Visit the AGCare or Ontario Farm Animal Council websites: www.agcare.org or www.ofac.org.
• Call the Ontario Farm Animal Council/AGCare: 519-837-1326
• Contact the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture. Food and Rural Affairs: Agricultural Information Contact Centre
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: 519-826-4047
Email: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
www.omafra.gov.on.ca
