Clean Sweep Programs - US Environmental Protection Agency

Summary of Montana Waste Pesticide Disposal ProgramThe annual pesticide collection program consists of two to three central collection events during aone-week period. The program is permanently funded to the extent that the Montana legislature mustreauthorize the program every five years. The program is currently funded through 2003. The MontanaDepartment of Agriculture inventories the waste pesticides in a targeted region and provides appointmentsfor growers, who must preregister their unusable pesticides. Farmers represent about 80% of the numberof participants. In terms of pesticide weight, however, retailers and distributors contribute the largestamount, 78% of the total in 2000. Participants pay $1 per pound for the first 200 pounds and $0.50 perpound for amounts in excess of 200 pounds. Licensed applicators and dealers receive a fee credit for thatportion of their license fee earmarked for the disposal program. About 50 percent of the pesticidescollected are banned or unregistered, with organochlorine insecticides, seed treatment pesticides and olderherbicides the most common materials. Insecticides represent over 75% of the pesticides collected, andinclude DDT, chlordane and pentachlorophenol. Herbicides include 2,4,5-T, dinoseb and soil sterilants, andstrychnine is the primary rodenticide collected.Montana Table 1 - Quantity of Pesticides CollectedYearQuantity ofPesticides (pounds)Number ofParticipantsAverage Quantity of Pesticides perParticipant (pounds/participant)1994 13,197 107 1231995 14,506 70 2071996 64,224 125 5141997 26,335 125 2111998 21,774 108 2021999 0 0 NA2000 39,150 85 461TOTAL 179,186 620 289Information on program cost is not available.NA = not applicable