Requirements for Pesticide Disposal
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) governs the sale, distribution and use of pesticides in the United States. Pesticides are regulated under FIFRA until they are disposed, after which they are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which ensures responsible management of hazardous waste and non-hazardous solid waste.
Farmers and commercial pesticide users generally cannot dispose of pesticides in household hazardous waste programs. However, many states run pesticide disposal programs specifically for farmers and commercial pesticide users, which are often referred to as “Clean Sweep” programs. The details of the programs – including the participants, the materials collected, how the materials are collected and the dates of the collection – vary by state.
For more information about Clean Sweep programs and to find a contact in each state, see The Pesticide Stewardship Alliance's State Pesticide Disposal Database.
Some, but not all, pesticides are regulated as hazardous waste when disposed. Read more about hazardous waste disposal.
The Universal Waste regulations ease requirements for certain hazardous wastes, including pesticides, for those who generate and transport them. The Universal Waste regulations facilitate state Clean Sweep programs. Read more about Universal Waste regulations.
Additional Information
- Chapter 13 of the Label Review Manual provides guidance on developing pesticide disposal instructions on pesticide labels in Section V.
- Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Guidance on Pesticide Disposal
- Pesticide Storage
- Pesticide Container Recycling