Manitoba farmers return 120,000 pounds of obsolete pesticides and livestock medications

Farmers in Manitoba returned 116,000 pounds (53,000 kilograms) of obsolete and unwanted pesticides and 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) of livestock and equine medications through CleanFARMS' obsolete collection campaign in 2016.

CleanFARMS, which operates the program, is an Etobicoke, Ontario-based, industry-led agricultural waste stewardship organization. Collections took place at 19 participating ag-retail locations throughout the province from Oct. 24-28, 2016. This is the fourth collection program CleanFARMS has run in the province.
This marked the second time that a combined collection of pesticides and livestock medications has been offered in Manitoba. CleanFARMS partnered with the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) to add the collection of livestock and equine medications to CleanFARMS' existing obsolete pesticide collection program.

"The CleanFARMS collection program provides farmers with an environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused or expired pesticides and livestock medications, and we look forward to more opportunities to be able to do this," says Dan Mazier, president of the Keystone Agricultural Producers. "Farmers in Manitoba are committed to protecting the environment, and the high number of participants in this program is just another example of our efforts."

Manitoba farmers have a long history of good stewardship practices. Since 1998, Manitoba farmers have returned more than 599,000 pounds (272,000 kilograms) of obsolete pesticides.

"We are pleased with the success of this program in Manitoba," says Barry Friesen, CleanFARMS' general manager. "Manitoba farmers' continued dedication to the obsolete collection program proves their commitment to protecting the environment and making responsible decisions on the farm."

The obsolete collection program is generally delivered in each province or region of the country every three years and comes at no cost to farmers. The program will return to Manitoba in fall 2019. In between collections, farmers are encouraged to safely store their unwanted pesticides and livestock medications until they can properly dispose of them through the program.

The obsolete collection program is part of the plant science and animal health industry's commitment to the responsible life cycle management of their products.