BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – More than 260 tons of unusable pesticides – an all-time record – were collected and shipped out of state in the 2019 Project Safe Send collections.

“This year’s total eclipses the previous record of 190 tons in 2015,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “More than 350 North Dakota farmers, ranchers, applicators, homeowners and others took part in the collections.”

Goehring said the results demonstrate a continued need for the program that enables people to safely and affordably get rid of unusable, unneeded or unwanted pesticides.

The collections were conducted during July in 12 communities: Wyndmere, Ashley, Bismarck, Hettinger, Dickinson, Tioga, Minot, Harvey, Larimore, Langdon, Devils Lake and Valley City.

Larimore recorded the largest collection with 126,980 pounds. Valley City was second with 65,998 pounds of unusable pesticides.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture contracted Veolia Environmental Services, Blaine, MN, to collect, repackage and transport the waste chemicals to out-of-state incinerators.

Project Safe Send is funded by pesticide manufacturers through product registration fees in North Dakota.

“Project Safe Send is a recognized model as a means for the public to safely get rid of these chemicals and help ensure a healthy environment,” Goehring said. “The need for this program will continue, as more people learn how it benefits them and as more pesticides become obsolete and are no longer usable for current applications.”