Saskatchewan Pesticide Return Program (1999- 2001)

Final Report

Program Overview:
The Saskatchewan Pesticide Return Program (hereinafter referred to as the Program) was initiated in 1999 and completed in 2001. Over the course of the three years, the Program was successful in collecting and disposing of 111,950 litres and 48,460 kilograms of unwanted and obsolete pesticides that were stored on Saskatchewan farms. By eliminating these obsolete pesticides, and their associated health and environmental hazards, the Program made a great contribution to the health and safety of Saskatchewan people, especially farm families, and to the protection of the environment.

1. Purpose of the Program:
The Program was a three year initiative to provide Saskatchewan farmers with the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted and obsolete pesticides at no charge. Under this Program, pesticides including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides were targeted for collection and disposal. Household materials such as solvents, paints and antifreeze were not accepted.

2. Operations of the Program:
The Program operated by having producers return their unwanted pesticides to pre-selected collection points. The collection points were geographically dispersed throughout the target area for easy access for producers to return their unwanted products, and for efficiency in the collection of the products for disposal. Collection points were located in the normal business trading centre of an area, and within 30 kilometres of most farms. The collection points were retailers of agricultural products who agreed to participate, and had approved warehouse facilities for the handling and storage of pesticides. Producers returning products were asked to complete a survey for the first two years of the Program to gain feedback about the Program and to understand the reasons for the unwanted pesticides. Completion of the survey was not compulsory. At the end of the three day collection blitz, held in late October of each year, a contractor licensed for the transport of such pesticides collected the unwanted pesticides and transported them to a facility licensed for the disposal of such products in an environmentally friendly manner.

3. Collection Dates:
The collections of the pesticides were done in three day blitzes in late October of each year. Three day collection blitzes was deemed to be most effective and efficient in having as much product returned as possible. The respective collection dates were: 1) October 26-28, 1999, 2) October 24-26, 2000 and 3) October 23-25, 2001. The late October dates were chosen to have the least conflict with other farming operations. The collected pesticides were disposed of as soon as the contractor was able to deliver the pesticides to the disposal facility.

4. Collection Areas:
For implementation of the Program, the agricultural portion of the province was divided into 3 regions, one of which were serviced in each of the three years of the Program. For Year I (1999), the southern region of the province was approximately bounded by the U.S. border to the south and the Saskatchewan River and #1 Highway to the north. For Year II (2000), the central region was approximately bounded by the Saskatchewan River and the #1 Highway to the south and the Yellowhead (#16) highway to the north. For Year III (2001), the northern region was bounded by the Yellowhead (#16) highway to the south and the northern fringe of the agricultural region to the north. The Program poster contained a map with the three geographical divisions for each year of the Program. All collection points for each year were established within the respective geographical area, although producers from outside the targeted area were welcome to return product as well.

5. Collection Points:
Almost 200 agricultural retailers provided their facilities and staff to serve as collection points to receive the obsolete pesticides. This service was provided at no cost. The collection points were selected from agricultural retailers, having approved warehouse facilities for the handling and storage of pesticides, who offered to participate. The selection of the collection sites was based on having sites geographically dispersed across the targeted area to provide for easy access by producers, and efficiency in the collection of the returned pesticides. The participating retailers included facilities of United Grain Growers, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Pioneer Grain Company, N.M. Patterson and Sons, Federated Co-op Limited, Cargill, Agricore and several independent dealers. In Year I, approximately 125 retailers participated. For Years II and III, the number of collection points was reduced to approximately 30 each year. This reduced number still provided a high level of service and convenience to farmers, but made for more efficient collection of the pesticides.

6. Program Communication and Promotion:
The Program was very successful in creating awarenesst, communicating its mode of operation, and the dates it was offered. The Program was extensively promoted through the following activities:
a) advertising in Saskatchewan weekly papers in the targeted areas for approximately two weeks prior to the collection dates.
b) advertising on commercial radio stations serving the targeted areas for approximately two weeks prior to the collection dates.
c) personal visits by employees of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council to participating retailers and most Rural Municipal offices in the targeted areas for Years II and III, to explain the Program and garner further support and awareness of it. The Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council employees are university summer students in the resource management or environmental fields of study.
d) a major news conference in August of 1999 in Regina, to launch the Program and subsequent news conferences in 2000 in Saskatoon and 2001 in Prince Albert on the day preceding the first day for collections. The news conferences were held at the sites of participating retailers who were acting as collection sites. The news conferences were well attended and received very favourable coverage by local and provincial media including radio, television and print.
e) news releases to the Saskatchewan media prior to the news conference and at the news conference, outlining the purpose of the Program, collection dates, and quotes from key Program participants.
f) a mailing of Program pamphlets to all rural households in the respective targeted areas approximately one month prior to the collection dates. Approximately 90,000 Program pamphlets were distributed in this manner.
g) display of Program posters at RM offices, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food offices, PFRA offices, and the participating retailers, who were acting as collection points.
h) participation in the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers
i) articles in agricultural extension newsletters.
j) a Program website which had all the particulars on the Program and was maintained and updated regularly.

7. Volume Collected:
The total volume of pesticides collected and disposed of was as follows:

Year I 8,867 kilograms solid 15,600 litres liquid
Year II 14,593 47,150
Year III 25,000 49,200
Total 48,460 kilograms solid 111,950 litres liquid

There was an increase in collections each year of the Program. This was likely influenced by cropping practices and the intensity of agricultural production in the different areas, and increased awareness of the Program.

8. Disposal of Pesticides:
The pesticides were disposed of through high temperature incineration at the Bovar licensed disposal facility at Swan Hills, Alberta. This method is accepted as being the most environmentally friendly.

9. Collection Contractor:
ENVIROCARE of Regina for Year I and Curtis Construction of Naicam, SK, for Years II and III were the contractors selected for the distribution of collection drums prior to the collection dates, the pick up of the obsolete pesticides from the collection points, and the transport of the pesticides to the disposal facility. The selection of the contractor was done through a competitive process whereby several licensed operators were invited to submit tenders.

10. Program Costs:
The total cost for the three year Program was follows:
Year I $ 79,694.75
Year II $169,029.96
Year III $213,000.00 estimate
Total Program Cost $461,724.71 estimate

There is no estimate for in-kind contributions by the participating retailers acting as collection points, or the member agencies of the Steering Committee. Only cash costs for the promotion of the Program and the collection and disposal of the pesticides are included in the Program costs. All salary and administrative costs related to the development and delivery of the Program were borne by the Steering Committee member organizations.

11. Program Funding Sources:
The program was funded on a 50:50 basis by the crop protection industry through CropLife Canada (formerly the Crop Protection Institute of Canada) and the Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development in Saskatchewan (CARDS) program. CARDS is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

12. Program Steering Committee:
One of the key contributing factors to the success of the program was the effective working relationships amongst the many stakeholders and the members of the Program's Steering Committee. The Program was developed and directed by a Steering Committee including the following:
Cam Davreux, CropLife Canada
Bernie Tiessen, Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR)
Bill Lawrysyn, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
Colin Braithwaite, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
Ron Jones, Aventis CropScience Canada Co.
Al Raine, James Richardson International/Pioneer Grain Company (representing CAAR)
Rick Pritchard, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
Wayne Gosselin, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Calvin Massier, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Colleen Slater-Smith, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Sandra Stanger, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Howard Fox, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration

13. Future Collections:
This Program was a three year initiative which has now been completed.