Pest Control, Herbicides, and Dangers to the Environment

Pesticides are very useful in getting rid of insects, weeds, and other pests.
About 90% of households use herbicides or pest control, which amounts to over 70 million pounds per year (Earth 911).

  • Never Pour Down the Drain

  • Do Not Place in Garbage

  • Drop Off at Special Locations

Recycling and Disposal of Pesticides and Weed Killer

Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, all end in the suffix “cide,” which in Latin means “killer”.  Fungicides and herbicides are simply forms of pesticide. The pesticide term is often commonly refereed to as “bug killer”. These substances eliminate things like ants and grubs. Fungicides and herbicides are often called “weed killer”. They kill plant pests like fungi, weeds, and non native or invasive plants. Each of these are potentially dangerous to humans, animals, and to the environment. Even products that are low in toxicity, natural, or organic can be harmful if someone comes in contact with large quantities of the substance.

To tell the level of toxicity in the pest control, look on the label. It will either say CAUTION, WARNING, or DANGER. Caution means it has the lowest toxicity, WARNING is medium, and DANGER is the most toxic and requires the most care.

Safety

While you want powerful pesticides and herbicides that will fight off unwanted weeds and critters, you also want to make sure they don’t harm you, children, or pets.

To keep your children and pets safe, remove them from any areas that you plan to apply pesticide. Make sure no children’s toys are in the yard so that they don’t get the pesticide on their hands or in their mouth later. Also, remove all pet toys, food, and water bowls from the area. The label will indicate how long to stay away from the area (NPIC).

Since pesticides are toxic to animals, never pour them down the drain. Water treatment facilities cannot remove all pesticides and it will be sent into rivers and oceans, potentially harming aquatic life.

Disposal

Whether you use a sprayer or a bag, the best way to dispose of herbicides, pest control, and other hazardous household materials is through a collection center or special collection days. The Illinois EPA hosts 2 collection days per year. Check with your local village to see if they offer special collection days. Always use caution when dealing with pesticides, especially if you have children or pets. Make sure to follow the directions on the label and dispose of the herbicide or pest control properly when you’re done with it.