This page gives advice for those using pesticides in their gardens or allotments. The Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products contains disposal advice for farmers and other professional users.
Pesticides (like other household products) can harm the environment if they are not disposed of properly. Gardeners and allotment holders need to dispose of pesticides and pesticide packaging carefully.
Avoiding Disposal Problems
You can avoid the need to dispose of left-over pesticide by:
- Using alternatives to pesticides.
- Check if you already have some pesticide that needs using up before buying more.
- Only buying what you can use up in a year.
- Only mixing up or diluting the amount you need.
Disposing of Unwanted Pesticides
Never put pesticides down the sink, toilet or down drains
- It is illegal to put pesticides into any water system (for example: drains, sinks, toilets, watercourses, ditches).
- The smallest trace of pesticide makes water unacceptable for human consumption. Water companies have to use expensive processes (and other chemicals) to remove them from drinking water.
- Pesticides in water are a risk to creatures that live in or near water. Even very tiny amounts can kill or injure fish and insects.
Don't put pesticides in your bin unless the label says you can
- Nearly all pesticides are classed as hazardous waste.
- Hazardous waste goes to special sites for safe disposal. Normal landfill sites do not have enough protection to stop hazardous waste leaking into the wider environment, particularly water.
- Hazardous waste is not safe in incinerators designed for normal waste. Pesticides can give off poisonous or foul smelling fumes, or can be too inflammable to burn safely in normal incinerators.
- Containers could burst/break and expose bin collectors
- Only put a pesticide in your bin if the label says you can
Don't put pesticides on a garden bonfire
- Pesticides can give off poisonous or foul smelling fumes when burnt and so can the containers they come in
- Some pesticides are too inflammable to burn safely.
Do dispose of pesticides through your local council
- All local councils have to make arrangements for disposing of hazardous household waste.
- Many local authorities have a special place for hazardous household waste at a Civic Amenity Site or Recycling Centre.
- Pesticides (and other chemicals) are securely separated from other waste and disposed of safely later, usually in special high temperature incinerators that destroy them completely.
- The Pesticides Action Network has put together details of disposal facilities in Great Britain
- You can also phone your local council direct (usually the waste disposal section of your council can be found in the phone book).
How can I tell if a pesticide is approved?
- Look up the pesticide using our garden search database. Its best to search by MAPP (or MAFF) number (this is on the label) rather than by the trade name. Older versions of products with a different number might have the same name, but no longer be approved.
- You can also ask the manufacturer. The label might give you a helpline number.
- Ask us. We will need to know the product name, MAPP (or MAFF) number, active ingredient, and manufacturer/distributor. It may take us a few days to get back to you.
I accidentally kept/used a pesticide after its approval ran out. Will I be taken to court?
It is against the law to store or use an unapproved pesticide: the maximum fine for any offence under pesticides legislation is £5000. Your local council is responsible for prosecutions relating to private homes so it would be up to them what action to take. Local councils do understand that home gardeners do not follow pesticides news in the same way as farmers and other professional users.
The law on disposing of pesticides also applies to unapproved pesticides, so you should still follow advice on disposal.
Disposing of Empty Pesticide Containers
Can I put empty pesticides containers into my bin?
Yes. Empty cardboard containers can be put in the bin. Empty "ready to use" containers can go straight in the bin. Empty bottles/jars of concentrates (pesticides you dilute with water for use) need to be rinsed out three times first.
How should I wash out containers?
The rinse water should be added to the final spray solution. It must not be put down the drain, sink or toilet.
Can I put empty pesticide containers on my garden bonfire?
No. Plastics and other packaging materials may not burn well and might give off unpleasant fumes.
