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Updated Sep 15, 2022

Detailed Instructions for Disposing of Empty Pesticide Containers

Make sure to properly dispose of empty pesticide containers

  • Use all the product in the container according to the instructions.
  • Triple-rinse the container and use the solution like the full-strength pesticide.
  • Punch multiple holes in the empty container so it won’t be used again. 
  • Recycle the container. Contact your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility for dates and locations.

Steps 1-4 of empty pesticide containers (full text below)

Infographic steps 5-8 for disposla of empty pesticide containers (full text below)

Infographic showing steps 9-10 for diposal of empty pesticide containers ((full text below)

Infographic provided courtesy of Penn State Extension Pesticide Education Program  .

 

  1.      Wearing gloves, empty contents of container into sprayer.
  2.      Fill container 1/5 full of water.
  3.      Replace cap and shake container for 30 seconds.
  4.      Drain rinse water into sprayer.
  5.      Repeat two more times, shaking container in different directions.
  6.      Rinse the outside of the container.
  7.      Remove foil seal and label booklet.
  8.      Render the container unusable. Never reuse a pesticide container for any purpose.
  9.      Recycle the container. Contact your local HHW collection facility for dates and locations.
  10.      Diluted rinse material remaining in the sprayer should be sprayed according to the label where the pesticide was intended to be used.

Find a Hazardous Waste Facility

Hazardous Waste Disposal in Oregon, USA: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Services by County in Oregon  

For the Portland metro region in Oregon, contact Metro’s Recycling Information. Call  503-234-3000, email   or visit Metro’s website  

Contact your local household hazardous waste location. Call  1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687) to find out where to dispose of pesticides. Or talk to your state's environmental agency to learn about pesticide disposal requirements for your area.

FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT PESTICIDES

The National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)  can answer questions about pest control chemicals.
 1-800-858-7378 or npic@ace.orst.edu  

HOW TO TRANSPORT & DISPOSE OF PESTICIDES

Content provided by Weston Miller and Kaci Buhl.

 Peer reviewed by OSU Department of Horticulture.

Photo of Weston Miller

Weston Miller

Project Founder and Content Writer

Weston Miller served as Community and Urban Horticulture faculty for Oregon State University Extension Service for Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties. Weston is an author for content for this website. He developed funding partnerships with Portland area agencies to initiate and build out the Solve Pest Problems website focused on this goals:

Photo of Kaci Buhl

Kaci Buhl

At the state level, I lead the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP). The program hosts live recertification events around the state, serving over 1,000 licensed pesticide applicators each year. We also produce web-based training modules and license-preparation study manuals. Special training for unlicensed pesticide applicators is also available through a grant from the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The PSEP at OSU works closely with the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Division.

Pesticide disposal reference

Disposal of Pesticides  
National Pesticide Information Center