At some point, you’re done with gardening for the year. This could be after a summer or fall harvest, after the first big frost hits, or when it’s time to move from your current home. Regardless of the reason, while you’re putting away your tools, you should also evaluate all your gardening hazardous waste—the pesticides and chemical fertilizers commonly used. If you have empty containers, old products, or simply want to get rid of them as part of a clean-out, it’s essential to know the proper disposal method.
Gardening Hazardous Waste Products
While there are a myriad of gardening and lawn chemicals, most hazardous products fall into one of two broad categories: pesticides and fertilizers. Whether or not they are designed to promote or halt growth, understanding what makes them toxic is key to safe handling, storage, and disposal.
The Many Kinds of Pesticides
Pesticides are designed to kill indoor and outdoor pests. Some products cover a wider range of organisms, while others are very specific, such as weed killers that don’t harm grass or snail pesticides. Below are the various types of pesticides.
- Herbicides: Generally sold as grass or weed killers, these products contain chemicals designed to kill plants, either specific species or generally.
- Insecticides: Often designed for specific species of insects that are nuisances in the garden (such as lawn grubs) or the home (such as termites), there are also broad insecticides.
- Fungicides: For dealing with mold, mildew, or certain types of destructive fungus, many of these products are designed to be safe on the surfaces of plants or animals.
- Additional Pesticides: Other types include those that target rodents, slugs, or crabgrass, but there are many specialized versions that cover most types of pests.
Learn more in our blog, What Kind of Household Pesticides Are Hazardous?
The Types of Fertilizers
Fertilizer is a catch-all term for products that promote plant growth, typically for lawns and gardens. These products come in various types, ranging from white pellets to chemical sprays to pungent bags of soil. When you go to the store to buy fertilizer, generally you’re getting one of three kinds:
- Organic Fertilizers: These generally contain plant matter, animal remains, and naturally occurring minerals, to be handled and stored similarly to yard waste.
- Chemical Fertilizers: These products utilize artificially produced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in quantities that can be hazardous, particularly in wastewater.
- Biosolid Fertilizers: Generally used in commercial applications, biosolid fertilizers are produced from treated sewage sludge, posing a threat to the local water supply.
More information can be found here: Why Fertilizer is a Hazardous Household Product.
The Hazards of Garden and Lawn Chemicals
Both of these types of gardening hazardous waste can be difficult to dispose of. Unless otherwise specified on the label, most pesticides utilize petroleum-based products. This, coupled with their poisonous nature, means many can’t be disposed of at home. For fertilizers, while organic fertilizers can generally be disposed of at home, chemical and biosolid fertilizers shouldn’t be disposed of down the drain or in the trash. It’s also important not to overuse fertilizers and pesticides in an area, as runoff can damage the local environment.
For disposal, if your products are not expired and safe to use, consider asking neighbors and friends if they might be able to use them. You can also contact your local garden supply store to see if they accept unused fertilizer for disposal. If you’re looking for an easy solution, check out NEDT’s Household Hazardous Products Collection Centers! We can help with gardening hazardous waste, along with a wide array of other household hazardous products. Contact us or schedule a pick-up today!
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