Printer-friendlyEnvironment DEC
From the May 2008 issue
Record-Setting Spring 2008 CleanSweepNY
The Spring 2008 CleanSweepNY pesticide collection event, held recently on Long Island, was the tenth and most successful to date among the programs that have occurred statewide since 2002. CleanSweepNY is an Environmental Benefit Project which provides safe, economical collection and disposal of unwanted or unusable pesticides, school chemicals, elemental mercury and mercury-containing devices, as well as recycling of plastic and metal pesticide containers. It is administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Bureau of Pesticides Management in the Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials.
Hazardous and toxic products that are disposed of improperly can contaminate the environment
During the spring 2008 event, approximately 132,500 pounds of unwanted pesticides and old laboratory chemicals were received from almost 260 participants. These were record participation and collection rates compared to each of the previous CleanSweepNY events. In addition, approximately 45 pounds of elemental mercury and almost 340 mercury-containing devices were collected, as well as about 70 recyclable steel and plastic pesticide containers (including 55-gallon drums). Banned pesticides, such as DDT, chlordane and arsenic were among the materials collected. The pesticides, chemicals and devices were prepared by a licensed hazardous-waste hauler for ultimate disposal at a permitted hazardous-waste facility, and recyclable pesticide containers were transported for recycling.
Removal of unwanted pesticides and chemicals from our environment helps avoid potential contamination hazards, and collection of recyclables--which otherwise could have ended up in landfills--are important benefits of CleanSweep. They contribute to two of DEC's primary goals for New York State: 1) to promote a toxic-free future, and 2) to foster green and healthy communities. They also help to safeguard one of New York's treasured natural assets--the Long Island aquifer.
Solid and Hazardous Materials Division Director Ed Dassatti greets a CleanSweepNY participant
One of the strengths of CleanSweepNY is the collaboration that helps accomplish collections. DEC partnered with the NYS Department of Transportation, which provided facilities that served as collection sites for the event. The Ag Container Recycling Council accepted plastic pesticide containers for recycling. The hazardous-waste hauler and the many participants who brought in unwanted pesticides and old chemicals played important roles as well. Participants included certified commercial pesticide applicators, schools, farmers and owners of former farms.
CleanSweepNY was initially established with approximately $2.2 million from settlements involving state pesticide laws. Through the ten events held to date, more than 678,400 pounds of hazardous chemicals (including elemental mercury), hundreds of mercury-containing devices and approximately 1,765 plastic and metal pesticide containers have been collected.
