Collection Total for Statewide CleanSweep Program Now Tops Two Million Pounds
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that successful CleanSweepNY events were held during the week of October 21 in Riverhead and Melville. CleanSweepNY helps promote a healthy and sustainable New York by providing opportunities for proper disposal of unwanted and/or obsolete pesticides and other chemicals.
“Long Island’s recent CleanSweepNY events helped keep thousands of pounds of unwanted pesticides and other chemical wastes out of the region’s environment, communities, and landfills,” Commissioner Seggos said. “DEC appreciates the participation of the farmers, businesses, institutions and everyone that took this opportunity to help build a toxic-free future for New York.”
The fall CleanSweepNY events collected a total of 77,458 pounds of chemical wastes from 103 participants in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The event collected: 70,227 pounds of pesticides; 3,005 pounds of school chemicals; 2,948 pounds of paint; 4,943 aerosol containers of disinfectant spray, insect repellent sprays, and old spray paint; 515 pounds of old motor oil; and 763 pounds of various non-hazardous liquid wastes such as used engine coolant.
DEC staff visited three sites for the collection of waste chemicals to ensure pesticide containers in poor condition and waste chemicals were transported safely. In addition, the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, currently managed by the Long Island Cauliflower Association, provided for the collection and transport of recyclable plastic from CleanSweepNY collection sites.
DEC schedules and organizes CleanSweepNY events in collaboration with the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT). Collection events were held at DOT facilities.
This was the 28th collection event organized and administered by the DEC’s Bureau of Pesticides Management. Since the CleanSweepNY program’s inception in 2002, more than two million pounds of chemical wastes have been collected across New York State, as well as more than 910 pounds of liquid elemental mercury.
Approximately 6,100 plastic pesticide containers, including many 55- and 30-gallon triple-rinsed pesticide drums, which would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills, have been collected and properly recycled. The program is endorsed by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Agricultural Container Recycling Council, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the New York Farm Bureau, and related agricultural associations.
CleanSweepNY services are available to agricultural and non-agricultural professional pesticide applicators, schools, and certain businesses which use pesticides such as golf courses, cemeteries and marinas. Homeowners cannot participate, but information about reducing household hazardous waste is available on DEC’s website.
For more information on CleanSweepNY, visit CleanSweepNY's website or call toll free: 1-877-SWEEPNY (877-793-3769).
