Pesticides
Visit our new page on pesticide application, mixing and disposal.

Pesticides are used to control insects, rodents, molds, diseases and weeds.  Non-organic pesticides maybe helpful when properly applied but they can also be dangerous to the environment including animals, beneficial insects and humans.  Even organic pesticides can be dangerous when improperly handled or in high concentrations.

Use EXTREME care when using pesticides.  Follow label directions carefully and apply only as much as is needed.  Purchase pesticides in small quantities or find natural methods to control pests (see WATERWISE for alternatives).  When you bring your pesticides home, write the purchase date on the label so that you know when you should replace it.  Most manufacturers recommend keeping pesticides for no more than two years so only purchase the amount you can use in two seasons.  Follow these guidelines for safe storage and replacement guidelines.

Of Special Concern
Old pesticides sitting on your shelves might contain banned substances.  Of specific concern to Auburn are organochlorine pesticides. Many banned organochlorine pesticides have been detected at the Auburn Wastewater Treatment Plant.  In addition, pesticides can degrade over time and lose effectiveness causing you to apply too much. 

Pesticides should be disposed of properly using the guidelines below.  DO NOT apply pesticides when rain is forecast to prevent runoff into storm drains which flow directly to creeks and rivers.  

Disposal
Treat ALL pesticides as hazardous waste and take them to the Western Placer Waste Management Authority’s HHW facility. Check to make sure the container is not leaking and that the label can be read.  NEVER pour pesticides onto the roadway, down storm drains or into gravel.  The soil will NOT purify pesticides or make them safe to flow into underground aquifers. 

More Information
http://www.ourwaterourworld.org/ (Ways to manage pests from Bay Area Stormwater Management Association)
http://www.sacstormwater.org/StormwaterPollutionSolutions/PestControlProgram/PestControlProgram.html (WATERWISE pesticide alternatives from Sacramento Stormwater Coalition)
http://www.cdc.gov/lice/  (Center for Disease Control  - Lice information)
http://npic.orst.edu/  (National Pesticide Information Center - fact sheets and reference documents)
www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/index.htm (EPA - pesticide information, regulation, and links)
www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/disposal.htm (EPA - Safe pesticide disposal, including Español)
http://npic.orst.edu/index.html (National Pesticide Information Center – EPA and OSU Cooperative)
www.sacramentostormwater.org (Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership – See Waterwise for pesticide alternatives)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organochloride (info on organochlorine pesticides)
http://ohioline.osu.edu/b745/b745_11.html (guidelines on storage life for pesticides)