AUGUSTA – The state will offer free disposal of banned, unusable pesticides during the first week in October.

The Maine Board of Pesticides Control 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, board public information officer. “There will be four sites throughout the state where folks will be able to bring their obsolete pesticides.”

The collected chemicals will go to out-of-state disposal facilities licensed by the U.S. 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 collection while you can.”

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