Clean Sweep Programs - US Environmental Protection Agency

Summary of Indiana Waste Pesticide Disposal ProgramIndiana conducted its first Clean Sweep program in 1990. During annual collections between 1992and 1994, over 19,000 pounds were collected from approximately 218 participants. The 1992 CleanSweep project was part of the Lake Michigan Clean Sweep program. Both the 1992 and 1994 CleanSweep programs were funded with EPA monies.The Clean Sweep project that was conducted in Lake County, in December 1995, is typical of theClean Sweep program in Indiana. A contractor was selected by competitive bid. In this case LaidlawEnvironmental Service, Inc. from Tennessee was selected to handle, transport, and dispose of the pesticides.Laidlaw provided all the equipment such as drums, tables and protective gear and an emergencyresponse plan.A survey was conducted prior to the event to gather inventory data about each pesticide, includingthe brand name, active ingredient, EPA registration number, quantity and whether it was a solid or liquid.Advertisement through newspapers and extension services was used to limit participation to the agriculturalcommunity and to plan for safe transportation and collection. At the event, contractor personnel unloadedthe pesticides and sorted them according to DOT hazardous materials classifications and disposal guidelinesand recorded the types of material. Laidlaw assumed responsibility as the generator and transported thematerial to a facility for incineration. Each participant was given a packet of information pertaining to safetyand pollution prevention on the farm. This Clean Sweep project resulted in the collection of 8,064 poundsof unwanted pesticides from 33 participants. Total project costs were estimated at $12,149, with a federalshare of $12,096, state share of $53, and an average cost of $1.57 per pound.Clean Sweep programs conducted in 1996 and 1997 accounted for approximately 7,000 poundsof pesticides. The 1997 event was funded by EPA for $50,000. In October 1998, Indiana conducted aClean Sweep Program outside the Lake Michigan Watershed area and collected over 8,000 pounds ofpesticides. This is the first time that Indiana conducted a collection and disposal program with FIFRAdiscretionary funds.In July 2000 a Clean Sweep collection was conducted in Bloomington with the cooperation of theMonroe County Solid Waste Management District. The collection, open to farmers, ag dealers, pestcontrol businesses and golf courses, brought in almost 17,000 pounds of pesticides.