Safe Storage of Pesticides
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Improper pesticide storage and disposal can be hazardous to human health and the environment. Follow these safety recommendations:
- Don't stockpile. Reduce storage needs by buying only the amount of pesticide that you will need in the near future or during the current season when the pest is active.
- Follow all storage instructions on the pesticide label.
- Store pesticides high enough so that they are out of reach of children and pets. If possible, keep all pesticides in a locked cabinet in a well-ventilated utility area or garden shed.
- Never store pesticides in cabinets with or near food, animal feed, or medical supplies.
- Store flammable liquids outside your living area and far away from an ignition source such as a furnace, a car, an outdoor grill, or a power lawn power.
- Always store pesticides in their original containers, which includes the label listing ingredients, directions for use, and first aid steps in case of accidental poisoning.
- Never transfer pesticides to soft drink bottles or other containers. Children or others may mistake them for something to eat or drink.
- Use child-resistant packaging correctly - close the container tightly after using the product. Child resistant does not mean child proof, so you still must be extra careful to store properly - out of children's reach - those products that are sold in child-resistant packaging.
- Do not store pesticides in places where flooding is possible or in places where they might spill or leak into wells, drains, ground water, or surface water.
- If you can't identify the contents of the container, or if you can't tell how old the contents are, follow the advice on safe disposal.