KJFM NEWS –  Garden Talk is produced monthly at the Adair County University of Missouri Extension Center in Kirksville, Mo.

Pesticide disposal is one of those inconvenient tasks that often take a back seat to the urgent items in our daily workloads. Tips for managing and disposing of pesticide products include the following:

• Read the label, determine how much you need now, and buy close to that amount. Less volume equals less risk of disposal, release, or exposure.
• Label containers with the date of purchase using an indelible pen to track product age.
• Mix only enough for the job.
• If you end a job with leftover mix in the tank, ask neighbors if they have a similar pest to treat.
• NEVER reuse pesticide containers.
• Triple rinse, puncture, and dispose of empty containers in the trash. Triple rinse means fill container ¼ full of water, tightly close lid, shake, then empty contents into the spray tank and count 30 seconds to completely drain, then repeat two more times. Be sure to wear the required PPE.