A pesticide storage facility also protects pesticides from temperature extremes, unauthorized use and theft. Because some urban and agricultural pesticides are more toxic and formulated in higher concentrations, keeping unqualified and/or inexperienced people out of the storage area is essential. The size of the storage facility you require will be dictated by the volumes and types of pesticides you use, as well as the types of containers you use.

Storage Facility Placement

According to Kenneth Davis, Compliance Projects Manager with the Arizona Department of Agriculture, it is a fine of $500 for every container that is not stored properly. The left items should have been placed on a shelf or a pallet.

When planning a storage area, consider the slope of the area where the storage facility will be located. Select a site with as little slope as possible in order to prevent runoff and contamination of water supplies in the event of an accident or spill. It is also desirable to elevate the storage building at least 12 inches above the immediate ground level to prevent problems with moisture. Be aware of the possibility of flooding in extreme rain or storm events.

The Physical Structure

Liquid pesticides should be stored below or separately from dry pesticides. The containers are cracked, the contents of the container should be removed immediately and put into a new container.

The storage facility should allow for the separation of dry and liquid pesticide formulations. Herbicides are also separated from other pesticides to minimize cross-contamination. The ventilation system places the outlet away from the door so that any vapors will be drawn away from those entering the area.

The photo to the left shows bags of dry material everywhere except where they should be, which is on the empty pallet. The pallets at the top of the picture also look to be in a hazardous position.

High temperatures may also reduce effectiveness of emulsifiers, speed up container erosion and , in some cases, cause the pesticide to deteriorate. Low temperatures can cause compounds to settle or crystallize out of solution. Some compounds will freeze and upon expansion, rupture metal or glass containers.

The picture to the left violates one of the most important rules in chemical, pesticide, and fertilizer storage and that is to use "common sense."

Whether you build a pesticide storage facility or modify an existing structure, the following items summarize steps to increase the safety and utility of the storage building:

- Use the facility for pesticide storage and handling only

- A fence that cannot be climbed, with a locked gate, should surround the storage building.

- Identification signs in English and Spanish, visible from any approach to the building, should be on the fence, on the building, and at each gate, door or window. Signs legible at 50 feet stating "CAUTION -- Hazardous Pesticide Storage Area -- Unauthorized Persons Keep Out," identify the area for the public and fire fighters.

-The storage area must be child proof.

-Install good lighting. Smoke and fire detection alarms, connected to an outside signal, are designed to warn of problems inside the locked building.

-The storage area should be isolated from other structures/work areas, not subject to flooding, and away from water supplies and public roads.

-Metal shelving with a lip for small pesticide container storage and metal racks for drum storage are easier to decontaminate than wood in the event of a spill. If necessary, use leak-proof plastic containers with a lip on non-metal shelving.

-Keep the storage facility well ventilated by passive or electric ventilation systems. Locate the intake and outlet vents at opposite ends of the building to facilitate air flow; if the outlet vent is away from the door, it moves vapors away from those entering.

-Post "NO SMOKING" signs. Do not allow smoking in the storage area.

-Install a telephone or indicate the location of the nearest telephone. Put emergency numbers by the phone, including Poison Control.

-Comply with ALL label storage requirements.

- Make an inventory of all pesticides available in storage and mark containers with the date of purchase.

- Keep copies of your storage inventory in the storage area and on file, and keep MSDS information in an accessible location.

Pesticide Storage

The picture is a real trouble spot. Both dry and liquid materials are stored with one another and piled into one big mess. The bottles in the front look to have a leak somewhere, and should be replaced.

PPE, Leaks, Broken Packages, and Spills

Personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to prevent accidental contact depends on the product and its toxicity class. However, you must at least wear protective equipment for the skin, eyes, and lungs when handling packages that have been opened or are broken, leaking, or contaminated by a spill. The label on the product will list the protective clothing you need. Investing in a cleanup kit is a good idea. The kit should contain everything needed for a small spill cleanup: chalk, broom, mop, shovel, buckets, absorbent materials, sweeping compound, disposable protective clothing, gloves, boots, face shield or goggles, respirator or mask, and decontamination solution ingredients.

These photo showes the proper way of storing chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. Everything is up off the floor and on pallets. These materials are also on opposite sides of the storage facility and that will keep them from interacting with one another if the items in the pictures were to leak and mix with the another one. Also, the organization shown in both photos makes identifying materials easier.

To prevent contamination from leaks of liquid pesticides, they should be stored below or separately from dry pesticides. Containers that have been opened and the contents used or partially used up, and containers that are leaking because of mechanical injury, corrosion, temperature extremes, and chemical breakdown are considered broken package storage. You can position leaking containers to temporarily stop a leak. Turn up or rotate a can or drum that has been punctured, putting the hole on top, to stop the contents from escaping. Use caution, as a metal container that has rusted and is leaking through a rusted-out spot must be handled carefully; the entire container may be weak and may collapse if handled roughly.

General procedures for a dry spill cleanup include outlining the spill area with chalk or crayon. If the spill is within a marked area, you can tell if you are confining the spill. Put absorbing compound on a dry spill and sweep to the center of the spill area. Shovel up the residue and continue sweeping with more sweeping compound until the spilled material is removed. You can then use a decontamination solution recommended by the manufacturer of the product. Some decontamination solutions you might use are: full strength household bleach, hot soapy water, lye solutions, and solvents. Check the label or MSDS for specific instructions.

The illustration to the right shows an example of an ideal pesticide and chemical storage facility. Notice that dry and liquid materials are separated and off of the floor, and a ventilation fan is in place. Also, notice that a shower, eye wash station and locked personal protective equipment closet are not a part of the main storage area. The curb at the front of the storage area will help spillage when loading and unloading materials into and out of the storage facility. The smooth concrete floor will aid in the clean up of any spills, and with all other chemicals and pesticides off the ground, dangerous materials will not interact with one another.

A liquid spill also should be outlined with chalk or crayon and the liquid soaked up with an absorbent material. You can use sawdust, industrial absorbent, cat litter, or even dry soil to surround and soak up the liquid spill. Sweep the absorbed material that has been saturated with the spilled liquid toward the center of the spill to avoid increasing the contaminated floor space. Shovel up and repeat until visible residues are removed. Decontaminate the area with decontamination solutions and rinse it with clean water.

Use the contents which might be contaminated from a spill first. That way they are the first to be disposed of and eliminated from the storage facility. First clean the outer surfaces. If the contents are contaminated, dispose of the pesticide. When handling contaminated containers, follow instructions regarding protective clothing.

Disposal Methods

It is the pesticide user's responsibility to see that unused chemicals and empty containers are disposed of properly. If you cannot use all of a pesticide material, the goal is permanent disposal as soon as possible. Using the storage facility as a temporary disposal site until you arrange permanent disposal has disadvantages because, if containers begin to leak, they can contaminate clean containers and the storage facility itself. In addition, the occupied storage area may be needed for storage of new pesticides. Temporary disposal in the storage facility may also take up space necessary for safe operation.

You can dispose of pesticides permanently in several ways. The most desirable approach is to avoid leftover pesticide by ordering and using only what you need. That way, pesticide storage and disposal are kept to a minimum. If that is not possible, deliver the material for burial at an approved sanitary landfill, if state and local regulations permit. Or, have a commercial solid waste disposal company collect the pesticides. You might also consider letting another qualified applicator use the material.

Triple rinsing is the first step in the disposal of a pesticide container. Triple rinsing steps are:

-Empty the pesticide container into the spray tank, letting it drain completely.

-Fill the container 1/4 to 1/5 full with water, close and shake the container vigorously so that all inside surfaces have been rinsed.

-Empty the rinse water into the spray tank, letting the container drain completely (at least 30 seconds).

-Repeat the rinsing procedure two more times, emptying the rinse water into the spray tank each time.

-Unless they can be returned to the manufacturer, all solid containers should be punctured and crushed so they cannot be reused.

A variety of products can aid in the clean up of spilled materials. A chemical spill kit, such as the one on the bottom right come with hazard gloves, polylaminated hood and boots, hazardous materials storage bag, sorbent pads and a warning sign.

If the storage area becomes crowded with both empty and full containers, it may be tempting to dispose of the empty containers by putting them outside or disposing of them improperly. If possible, set aside a certain area specifically devoted to storing the empty containers so they will not interfere with handling the full containers. Open-ended barrels are useful for storing these crushed containers.

Good lighting and readable labels make it much easier for landscape contractors to find what they are looking for as well as identify materials when there is a spill or a leak. All of the bottles shown in the above picture are free from residue and are all capped. The boxed items in the back of the storage unit are all neatly stacked with labels that clearly identify what they are, facing front.

When dealing with pesticide storage and container disposal, it is important to follow the label and the intent of the law. Containers that held pesticides cannot all be treated alike. The product label will help you identify the procedure you need to follow in order to legally and safely dispose of each pesticide container. You may have additional strategies that work in your particular situation. Use common sense and read the label. Remember: the label is the law! LCM