Clear Out Old Pesticides Before They Become A Danger On The Farm, with the Kouga Municipality

Old Pesticides Can Become A Dangerous Problem On The Farm

Obsolete pesticides and empty chemical containers should never be left lying around a farm. They can pose a serious threat to people, animals, livestock and the environment.

CropLife South Africa is encouraging farmers to identify unwanted pesticides and used containers, prepare them correctly and take them to an approved collection site.

Hidden Risks Around The Farm

Old pesticides may remain hazardous long after they are no longer needed. Damaged containers can leak into the soil, rivers and groundwater. Meanwhile, unsafe storage increases the risk of accidental poisoning.

Chemical containers can also cause fires or other dangerous incidents. Reusing them to store water, food, animal feed or household products is particularly risky.

Correct disposal protects farm workers, families and surrounding communities. It also supports safe food production and helps farmers meet their legal responsibilities.

Preparing Containers For Collection

Farmers should begin by checking storage areas for expired, unwanted or unidentified pesticides. These products must remain securely sealed and should never be poured onto the ground or into drains.

Empty pesticide containers should be triple-rinsed. The rinsing liquid must be added to the spray tank and used according to the product instructions.

Once cleaned, the containers should be punctured so they cannot be reused. They can then be stored safely until they are delivered to an approved CropLife SA collection event or collection site.

Safe Disposal Protects The Future

Responsible pesticide disposal prevents pollution and reduces the chance of chemicals reaching children, animals or unsuspecting workers. It also keeps empty containers out of informal reuse and ordinary waste streams.

Farmers should check collection dates and confirm their nearest approved drop-off point before transporting any products or containers.

For collection information, contact your local crop adviser or CropLife South Africa. Gerhard Verdoorn can also be contacted on 082 446 8946 by WhatsApp message only.

A few careful steps can remove a significant hazard while protecting farms, families and the land for the future.