Montana Launches 2026 Pesticide Waste Disposal Initiative

The Montana Department of Agriculture is encouraging participation in its 2026 Pesticide Waste Disposal Program for safe disposal of pesticide products.

What happened

The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) has opened registration for the 2026 Pesticide Waste Disposal Program. This initiative aims to assist pesticide applicators, agricultural producers, and landowners in disposing of unused, unusable, and unknown pesticide products. The program is designed to mitigate environmental contamination and protect human health by facilitating dedicated disposal events across the state.

Since its inception in 1994, the program has successfully collected over 883,000 pounds of pesticide waste from nearly 2,000 participants. The MDA is working towards a goal of collecting one million pounds. Accepted materials include outdated crop protection chemicals, unregistered pesticides, and pesticide-treated seeds, while certain items like rinsate and fertilizers are excluded.

Participants can dispose of the first 200 pounds of pesticide waste for free, with a fee of $1 per pound for any additional weight. Special packaging requirements for hazardous materials may incur extra charges.

To participate, individuals must pre-register with the MDA by completing an online form. Registrants can choose a convenient day and location for waste disposal, with acceptance based on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadlines for pre-registration vary depending on the event dates.

Why it matters

• Helps prevent environmental contamination from pesticide waste.
• Reduces health risks to humans, livestock, and pets.
• Provides a cost-effective disposal option for agricultural stakeholders.

What to do next

• Pre-register for the disposal program by the specified deadlines.
• Visit the MDA website for more details on accepted materials and registration.

Source

Original reporting by www.northernag.net: https://www.northernag.net/registration-open-for-the-2026-montana-pesticide-waste-disposal-program/