Establishes the farm pesticide collection program for the collection and disposal of pesticides from farms within the state

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, the agriculture and markets law and the state finance law, in relation to establishing a farm pesticide collection program

Purpose

Establishes the farm pesticide collection program for the collection and disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers from farms within the State.

Summary of provisions

Directs the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Agriculture and Markets to jointly develop, implement and operate a farm pesticide collection program. Such program shall be made available for utilization by owners and residents of farms, both active and inactive, located within the state for collection and disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers. Also, establishes the "farm pesticide collection program fund," to provide a mechanism for collection and disposal of such compounds. Fifty dollars of each paid registration fee on pesticide businesses shall be deposited in the fund for the purposes of administering the program.

Justification

Delabelled pesticides - compounds which were once authorized for agricultural use in New York, but whose use has since been prohibited by the Department of Environmental Conservation - represent a little recognized potential environmental hazard. While the agricultural community has proven to be extremely cooperative with the DEC's efforts to protect our environment by not using remaining stocks of delabelled pesticides, this poses an entirely different risk to the environment.

Because there has never been an organized, ongoing, statewide protection program to collect and safely dispose of these unused pesticides, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of pounds of these toxic compounds remain stored in barns and storage sheds across this state. Many of these compounds have been stored on site for years. While there is no expectation that farmers will suddenly decide to abandon their responsible approach to environmental stewardship and release these compounds, it is the unintended release of these compounds that represents the greatest hazard. Much of this inventory is stored in decaying containers, a situation that can be expected to worsen over time. This bill seeks to provide a mechanism for safe and efficient disposal of these chemicals, protecting our environment in the future.

Legislative history

S.5758 of 2007-2008 S.4884-B of 2005-2006 S.4524-B of 2004

Fiscal implications

None to state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.