Virginia's Pesticide Collection Program assists agricultural producers, licensed pesticide dealers, pest control firms, golf courses and homeowners with the proper disposal of unwanted pesticides. The program is an effort by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), with participation from Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services.
Since its inception in 1997, Virginia’s Pesticide Collection Program has collected and destroyed more than 1.8 million pounds of pesticides. Available at no cost to eligible participants, the program is supported by pesticide fees collected by VDACS. No general fund tax dollars are used to implement the program.
To administer the Pesticide Collection Program, Virginia is divided into five regions. Each year, a pesticide collection program is conducted in a different region. Once all five regions have been served, the program will start another cycle.
The Pesticide Collection Program requires participants to transport their unwanted agricultural and commercial pesticides to a central collection site where the hazardous waste disposal contractor will package the pesticides for eventual disposal. If a participant cannot safely transport unwanted pesticides, the program may make arrangements to containerize the pesticides for transport.