Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / Dec. 10, 1970, edition 1 / Page 5
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How To »Throw Away Pesticides iHi jjs A can of pesticide has been fitting on a high shelf In my basement since early spring, fiat's when I read the label on Jte can and found that It confined a heavy percentage of j$PT. for several months I have Iftien trying to find a way to 'safely dispose of this can, but no one has been able to offer tituch In the way of helpful advice. E ven the experts disagree. ~V { suspect that a lot of concerned'' people face the same dlIfcmma. Getting rid of stocks of DDT and other persistent pestl,flUtes Is like trying to throw £Way a boomerang. #nJk Is common knowledge that persistent pesticides like DDT, aldrln, dleldrln, endrln, heptachlor and mercury compounds are highly dangerous to wildlife Ind man. Studies have proven *thls beyond any doubt, and laws been pa.1- ««d regulating the fee of some pesticides. Despite the concern, the ifterage citizen— like myself ^has been left holding the bag. "• During my search for a safe disposal method, I asked seed dhd fertilizer dealers, university professors and scientists for advice. * check with local garden supply houses and seed companies-who sell pes'icicles-was revealing and shoe' tag. Several suggested that I might dispose& of my can of DDT by throwing It 1<> the garbage. Let the city bury itlnalandflll," they said. Another suggested that 1 merely flush It down the toilet. Still another said I should bury it in my backyard. It takes no genius to determine such advice Is poor. Pesticides concentrated In a landfill would eventually be released Into the environment in dangerous quantities. Flushing them down the toilet would put them Into rivers, estuaries and the ocean. As for burying It, who knows when someone might dig Into it and accidentally release It Into the environment fit—" Mgjui,tfTjUtflg °Pmion of should know better-that all present stocks of DDT should be used as quickly as posible for agriculture. "That way, at least It would be deteriorating In the fields," he said. Naturally, this authority declined to predict what impact this might have on the environment, although he did admit that It *BUd be ten years before this DDT deteriorated to half its original strength. Other experts were more [reasonable. "I can't honestly tell you how |to safely dispose of persistent pesticides," one admitted, and neither can anyone else. (The whole subject Is up in the air, and we are studying the problem now. I know that special furnaces which will burn pesticides without releasing them Into the environment are being developed, but F don't know when they will be ready or how well they will (work." This same expert suggested thrt present stocks of persistant pesticides—both large and kmall—should be stored until Lome safe means of disposal Is round. Although there are obvious lilsadvantages to this latter Eiposal, It still seems to be best course for the time ng. uft you follow this suggestion, |t means keeping the pesticides the home or garage. Obrlousty, you should store It In a safe place out of the reach of kids, and curious adults. It tinuld giso be stored In a cool dace. How you store It is your i, 'but If you throw It In garbage, flush It down the fatlet, bury It or use U on your tarden, It Is - unfortunatelyIverybody's business. As for me, I'm going to keep can of DDT or that high the if. For the preaen-S there mi to be no othei loftral fhoice. —— SANTA CAME EARLY It seems as though Santa kame early this year. At least {hat's the way members of the trvin Green family, Oxford, r3, felt as they moved into tor new bouse recently. The attractive and convenient
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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Dec. 10, 1970, edition 1
5
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