Maine residents can participate in the Obsolete Pesticide Collection Program, a joint initiative by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Board of Pesticides Control and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

The program aims to safeguard Maine’s natural resources and prevent agricultural pollution by promoting the safe and proper disposal of outdated, unused or unwanted pesticides.

Homeowners and small family-owned farms are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by bringing unwanted pesticides — including herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, disinfectants and similar products used in agricultural production or around the home — to collection sites in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta and Portland.

The next obsolete pesticide collection days will be held in October, with one-day events in Presque Isle, Bangor, Augusta, and Portland.

Registration is required by Sept. 25 to participate; drop-ins are not permitted.

The program only accepts pesticides and spray adjuvants. Registration instructions and forms can be found at maine.gov.

Each registration must be from the person currently possessing the pesticides, and materials collected on behalf of others will not be accepted.

More details, including drop-off locations and the obsolete pesticides inventory form, are on the Board of Pesticides Control website.

Check out upcoming area events!