Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division
Household Pesticides

Disposal

The general term "pesticide" includes herbicides, fumigants, insecticides, nemacides, fungicides, miticides, rodenticides, termiticides, molluscides, acaricides, bird repellents and some wood preservatives. 

The best way to dispose of pesticides, including restricted pesticides, is by following the application directions on the packaging.  If you can't use the product up, you may have a neighbor or relative that can use it.  If that isn't possible, often the only other alternative is to dispose of household pesticides in the trash.  This is the least-preferred disposal option, but it may be the only option available in some areas.  

Dry pesticides should be double-bagged in trash bags, then placed in the trash.  Small containers (<1gallon) of liquid pesticides should be wrapped securely in several layers of newspaper, placed in a strong plastic bag or double-bagged in trash bags, then placed in the trash.  Liquid pesticides and fertilizers are the only liquid wastes that are allowed to be placed in the trash because it is generally more hazardous to try to stabilize these wastes, especially for chemically sensitive individuals.

These procedures are intended for small quantities of pesticides from a household only.

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