COMMUNITY INFO
COMMUNITY INFO
DON’ T LET PESTICIDES BUG OUR WATERSHED
Improper usage, storage, and disposal of pesticides can have a profound impact on our watershed.
Keep the bugs out!
The best way to minimize the impacts of pesticide pollution is to prevent pests to begin with.
Indoor Prevention
• Remove Food and Water: Fix any plumbing leaks, remove any water damaged items, and keep the home as dry as possible. Keep all food enclosed and stored properly and use tightly enclosed garbage cans. Pests thrive in damp dirty environments with open food sources.
• Remove or Block Pest Hiding Places and Entryways: Seal any cracks or crevices and check that windows and doors have screens or remain closed to reduce pest access.
Outdoor Prevention
• Remove Outdoor Hiding Places: Remove piles of wood and destroy diseased plants or fallen fruit that may contain pests.
• Remove Breeding Sites: Clean up pet waste, remove any litter or garbage, and make sure drainpipes and other water sources drain away from your home.
• Take Care of Outdoor Plants: Healthy plants resist pests better than weak plants. Plant at the best time of the year to promote healthy growth. Use mulch to reduce weeds and maintain even soil temperature and moisture. Water adequately.
Usage, Storage and Disposal Practices
1. When using pesticides, only use the recommended amount; twice the pesticide won’ t do twice the job.
2. If you have a spill clean it up immediately using sawdust or cat litter; don’ t wash it away with water.
3. Only spray pesticides near plants that you wish to treat.
4. If you can’ t dispose of unused pesticides at a collection event, tightly close the cap of its container and place it in the trash for routine collection.
5. Don’ t dump leftover pesticide down the sink, toilet, sewer, or street drain- as the chemicals contained in pesticides may interfere with the operation of wastewater treatment systems.
6. Store pesticides in dry environment away from areas that have access to water or moisture.
7. Check out prc. org for collection events near you. haler
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Source information for this article provided by www. dep. pa. gov
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