AUGUSTA — This fall, the Maine Board of Pesticides Control will accept banned and no-longer-usable pesticides from homeowners at no cost.

According to a statement from the board, many Mainers don’t even realize they have banned or unusable pesticides on their properties, while others don’t know what to do about the hazardous substances they have, which can include DDT, lead arsenate, 2,4,5-T, and chlordane. 

“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,” Schlein said, “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.”

Preregistration is required by Sept. 25. To register, get collection dates and locations, and learn 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.