Farmers in the Okanagan can soon safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and old, obsolete livestock and equine medications through a Cleanfarms program.

Cleanfarms is operating 11 single-day collection events at local agriculture retailer locations, landfills and transfer stations throughout the province next week, including Enderby on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Okanagan Fertilizer (603 Vernon St.). The collection also takes place in 琉璃神社 Wednesday, Oct. 23 at Growers Supply (2605 Acland Rd.), Oliver on Thursday, Oct. 24 at Growers Supply (5911 Sawmill Rd.) and Penticton on Friday, Oct. 25 at Growers Supply (272 Dawson Rd.). The Enderby collection is replacing the Vernon collection following the closure of Growers Supply in the North Okanagan community.

鈥淓very time we鈥檙e here, farmers participate in this program because having safe, reliable ways to manage these materials is important to them. Collection events offer an opportunity for farmers to dispose of the materials that may have built up on their farms over the past few years at no charge,鈥� said Cleanfarms鈥� executive director Barry Friesen. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beneficial to our team as well, because these events allow us to connect with farmers in different regions each year and learn more about their circumstances, all while providing a service that鈥檚 valuable for them and their community as a whole.鈥�

Since the program began, more than 4.53 million kilograms of unwanted pesticides and 74,500 kg of obsolete farm animal (cattle, horses, goats, poultry) health medications have been collected across Canada.

Materials accepted in the Cleanfarms program include:

• Unwanted (or 鈥渙bsolete鈥�) agricultural pesticides including seed treatment (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label; including used miticide strips).
• Commercial pesticides for golf courses and industrial and commercial pest control products (identified with a Pest Control Product number on the label).
• Livestock/equine medications that are used on-farm in the rearing of livestock, poultry or horses in an agricultural context (identified with a DIN number, serial number, notification number or Pest Control Product number on the label).

The program does not accept:

• Treated seed/seed that is treated
• Fertilizer, diluted solution, large quantities of unopened product
• Full and unopened jugs of adjuvant or surfactant
• Needles or sharps, medicated feed, aerosol containers, premises disinfectants and sanitizers, veterinary clinic waste and medications, ear tags, and aerosols
• Domestic pesticides, fertilizers and animal health products
• Any other household hazardous waste

Cleanfarms rotates the program to regions across Canada every three years, meaning it will return to the Okanagan, Interior and Kootenay regions of British Columbia in 2027.