Project Safe Send nearly sets collection, participation records
BISMARCK - More than 100 tons of unusable pesticides - a near-record - were collected and transported out of North Dakota in 2009 through Project Safe Send.
"More than 500 people brought in a total of 205,021 pounds, compared to last year's record of 215,521 pounds," Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said Friday. "These numbers clearly indicate a continuing need for Project Safe Send."
The previous participation record was 535, also in 2008.
"Since 1992, almost 7,000 people have used Project Safe Send to get rid of their unusable pesticides, more than two and a half million pounds," Goehring said. "This public support has helped maintain the program's strong, bipartisan backing in the Legislature."
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Project Safe Send collections were conducted during July in Beulah, Bottineau, Casselton, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Drayton, Edgeley, Flasher, Grand Forks, Hillsboro, McClusky, Minot, Napoleon, Valley City, Williston and Wyndmere.
The Valley City collection drew the most participants - 54 people - and was second in the amount of chemicals collected - 30,838 pounds. Grand Forks was first in the amount of waste pesticides collected with 48,560 pounds and was second in participation with 52 people.
Long-banned products, such as DDT, arsenic, strychnine and mercury compounds, were among the chemicals brought in this year.
All the chemicals were collected, repackaged and transported to out-of-state incinerators by Veolia Environmental Services, Blaine, MN.
Project Safe Send is funded by fees paid by pesticide manufacturers to register their products in North Dakota.
"As more pesticides become obsolete every year and are no longer usable for current applications, Project Safe Send remains an easy and affordable means for farmers, dealers and homeowners to get rid of these dangerous chemicals," Goehring said.
Project Safe Send Chronology
YEAR PARTICIPANTS POUNDS COLLECTED
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1992 396 80,910
1994* 379 71,584
229 60,254
1995 145 48,222
1996 341 94,389
1997* 120 84,000
142 19,402
222 63,917
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1998 367 131,709
1999 321 158,938
2000 332 166,949
2001 369 147,857
2002 370 190,759
2003 460 155,158
2004 326 129,994
2005 458 172,791
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2006 428 170,817
2007 478 186,496
2008 535 215,521
2009 501 205,021
TOTALS 6,919 2,554,688
* Multiple collection periods were conducted in 1994 and 1997.
