Home & Garden Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals used to kill or repel pests. Pesticides include many common household products which you may not consider particularly hazardous, such as disinfectants and flea collars. Examples of pesticides include herbicides (which kill plants), insecticides (which kill insects), fungicides (which kill fungus or mold), rat poisons (which kill rats) and disinfectants (which kill bacteria).
All home and garden pesticides are toxic or poisonous to some degree. In many areas, residents are not permitted to dispose of poisonous substances down the home drain or into the septic system disposal. All products included on this page pose a health hazard if misused and a long-term hazard to drinking water quality if improperly disposed.
This information covers the following: general-use pesticides, disinfectants, mothballs & flakes, no-pest strips, pet collars, powders and shampoos and wood preservatives.
If you have questions about disposal of specific home and garden products not described here, please call your local or county public health or solid waste department. For alternatives to pesticide usage, contact your county extension agent.
NOTE: In light of rapidly changing information about the toxicity of hazardous substances, readers are cautioned to take personal responsibility for following the guidelines here. If you need additional advice, contact your county extension office or your district DNR office hazardous waste section.
Pesticide Use Categories
Pesticides are classified for "general use" or "restricted use" by the EPA according to provisions in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). These classifications have been developed to protect people and the environment from inappropriate use of pesticides. Pesticides that are classified as "general use" are relatively safe both for the user and the environment. Pesticides classified as "restricted use" include two groups of pesticides: those which have been banned from use and those which require special training and certification by the user.
However, pesticide ratings change. If you have old pesticides around the house, they may not be restricted or banned depending on product content. For example, products containing DDT, 2,4,5-T, silvex and those with high percentages of arsenic and strychnine have been banned. If you have pesticides on hand that are more than 5 years old, check with your county agriculture agent for information on their current classification.
- General-Use Pesticides
General-use pesticides include rose dust, flea powder, home insect sprays, insect and rodent traps, and weed killers. Anyone can apply general-use pesticides relatively safely if they follow the label instructions carefully and observe safety precautions. All pesticide labels include special signal words such as "CAUTION," "WARNING" or "DANGER" on the label to warn you about the hazards of using that product. General-use pesticides are products which are currently available to the general public at hardware, grocery, garden and other retail stores. - Restricted-Use Pesticides
Only certified applicators can purchase and apply pesticides in this category. Products containing these pesticides should not be in the home. Recently manufactured products containing these pesticides include a label warning "Restricted-Use Pesticide." However, you may have pesticides in storage that have had one or more of their uses cancelled or regulated and are now classified as restricted-use pesticides. Some pesticides which have been reclassified from general-use to restricted-use as of July 1988 include certain farm herbicides such as those found in Bladex and Lasso and all corn rootworm insecticides. Check with your local county extension agent for information on the proper classification for your pesticides. - Banned Pesticides
Technically, these pesticides fall into the restricted-use category. However, all uses of pesticides in this group have been cancelled according to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). You won't find these pesticides in recently produced home products, but they may be present in the home if you have old products or products manufactured for commercial use. Chlordane, DDT, ethyl dibromide (EDB), 2,4,5-T and silvex are common examples of banned pesticides. In particular, check old dandelion and weed killer products for banned 2,4,5-T and silvex ingredients.
DISPOSING OF HOME & GARDEN PESTICIDES
- Disinfectants: Disposal technique depends on the main ingredient. Read the label.
- Old Home Products: Products labeled 'germ proofing' or 'germ proofs' or products with chlorophenol ingredients should be carefully packaged in plastic and saved for a household hazardous waste program.
- Recently Purchased Home Disinfectants: Share with a neighbor, friend or civic group. If the product is a bathroom cleaner, it can be flushed down the drain with plenty of water. Evaporate if an organic solvent is present. Common solvents are: carbon tetrachloride (old products), chlorinated solvents, methylene chloride, mineral spirits, petroleum distillates, toluene, trichlorethane.
- Industrial Strength Disinfectants: Share or package and save for a household hazardous waste collection program.
- Mothballs & Flakes: Share or evaporate if practical. Small quantities of mothballs can be evaporated in the open air in a secure place away from children or pets. If these disposal options are not possible, wrap in plastic and save for a household hazardous waste collection program.
- No-Pest Strips: Use up, share or wrap and save for a household hazardous waste collection program. Buy in small quantities as necessary. Used strips can be wrapped in newspaper and disposed of in municipal garbage collection.
- Pesticide Containers: Triple rinse empty glass, plastic or metal pesticide containers before disposal. Add the rinse water to your spray mixture and apply it to needed sites. Carefully wrap empty paper or foil containers to protect sanitary landfill workers. Dispose of rinsed of wrapped containers in the trash.
- Pesticides for General Use: Use up or share. To share general-use pesticides, they should be recently purchased and in their original containers with legible labels. Containers should be at least one-third full. Liquid pesticides which have separated over the winter can still be used by remixing the product before using. Dispose of leftover general-use pesticides by using them or sharing them with someone who can use the product. If you cannot use them up this way, follow the recommended storage procedures. Take them to a household hazardous waste collection program if the community announces one or contact your district DNR office to learn if a collection program has been announced for a community near you.
- Pet Collars, Powders & Shampoos: Use up, share or wrap & save for a household hazardous waste collection program. To avoid excess, buy in small quantities as necessary. Used or empty products can be wrapped in newspaper and disposed in municipal garbage collection.
- Restricted or Banned Pesticides: Because of their restricted-use classification, do not use or share these pesticides. Instead, package them and save for a household hazardous waste collection program. Refer to the waste pesticide storage procedures on the box.
- Wood Preservatives: Wood preservatives are chemicals used to kill or repel the pests which cause wood decay and therefore are technically classified as pesticides. Depending on product description, follow advice below. Read label to verify main ingredient.
- Metal Based (such as copper or zinc naphthenate): Use up, share or save for a household hazardous waste collection program. Human and environmental impact of these preservatives is not fully understood but he product should be treated as a pesticide. In other words, as a hazard to human and environmental health.
- Pentachloropehnol (PCP or penta): Do not use. Avoid all exposure. Do not attempt to dispose. PCP presents severe human and environmental health hazards. At present there is no acceptable means of disposal. If you have some of this product, package it carefully to prevent spills and save for an EPA-sponsored PCP collection program.
NOTE ABOUT PESTICIDES CONTAMINATED WITH DIOXIN: Pesticides containing silvex or 2,4,5-T and wood preservatives containing pentachlorophenol are contaminated with a form of dioxin. This form of dioxin is a suspected cause of some cancers and birth defects. If you have any of these products, please call your local health department and ask them to add your name to a disposal notification list. Package carefully and label. Store until notified of proper disposal procedure.
For general disposal of specific items, please visit
Information provided by University of Wisconsin-Extension
For more information, please contact:
Kewaunee County Emergency Management
416 Fremont Street
Algoma, WI 54201
(920) 487-2940