Farmers in Northern Saskatchewan offered safe disposal of old agricultural products

Starting October 7, farmers in Northern Saskatchewan will have the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted agricultural pesticides and obsolete livestock and equine medications through a program run by Cleanfarms. The initiative, which runs until October 11, will take place at 20 single-day collection events held at local agricultural retailer locations across the province.

Barry Friesen, Executive Director of Cleanfarms, emphasized the importance of these events for farmers, providing a free and reliable way to dispose of hazardous materials. “Farmers have consistently participated in this program because managing these materials safely is crucial to them,” Friesen said. The initiative also helps Cleanfarms better understand regional farming conditions while benefiting communities.

The program is funded by the crop protection industry and the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI), ensuring that collected pesticides and medications are disposed of safely and responsibly. Since the program’s inception, over 4.53 million kilograms of unwanted pesticides and 74,500 kilograms of outdated animal health products have been collected across Canada.

Materials accepted include obsolete agricultural pesticides and livestock/equine medications used in farming, while certain items like treated seed, fertilizer, needles, and household hazardous waste are excluded. Cleanfarms rotates these collection events across Canadian regions every three years, and will return to Northern Saskatchewan in 2027.

For more information, farmers are encouraged to visit Cleanfarms’ website to check specific details on what can be recycled and where to find the nearest collection point.

Cleanfarms is an agricultural stewardship organization dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability through the recovery and recycling of agricultural materials across Canada.