AUGUSTA – In barns, basements, sheds and garages throughout the state reside tons of banned and unusable pesticides: old chemicals with names like DDT, lead arsenate, 2,4,5-T, and chlordane.

Often, new owners of older homes or farms discover they have inherited hazardous waste. When they do, residents face a dilemma: hire an expensive hazardous waste disposal service or dump the chemicals illegally, inviting harm to the environment and public health.

But there’s a third option that’s both legal and responsible – and free: Contacting the Maine Board of Pesticides Control.

In 2007, there will be two collections – in May and October – when the state regulatory agency will dispose of banned pesticides or pesticides that have become caked, frozen or otherwise rendered unusable.

“We urge people holding these chemicals to contact us immediately to register,” said Paul Schlein, BPC public information officer. “There will be four sites throughout the state where folks will be able to bring their obsolete pesticides.”

The collected chemicals go to out-of-state disposal facilities licensed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, where they are incinerated or reprocessed.

“While offering free obsolete pesticide disposal is expensive for us,” said Schlein, “it’s a bargain compared to the cost of cleaning up contaminated soil or water. However, it’s worth noting that future funding is not guaranteed, so be sure to take advantage of this year’s collections while you can.”

To register, find out collection dates and locations, and learn important information about the temporary storage and transportation of obsolete pesticides, go to the BPC Web site at www.thinkfirstspraylast.org. Or, call the BPC at 287-2731.

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