Pesticides
Pesticide waste
Because of their toxic properties, pesticides can be harmful to humans and other living species. The management of pesticide waste is important because of its hazardous materials (hazmat) properties that can present a danger to the environment and health. To limit risks, the management of pesticide waste is regulated. Some municipal by-laws are supplementary to Québec regulations. For more information, contact your municipality.
Management by individuals
Never dispose of leftover pesticides in a sink, septic tank, or sewer system. Wastewater treatment plants do not treat pesticide pollution. Instead, take your leftover pesticides and well-wrapped small spill containment materials to the ecocentre or participate in your municipality’s household hazardous waste collection.
Empty containers must be drained and rinsed three times. Rinsed containers must be crushed or punctured to prevent them from being used for other purposes. Empty containers should never be burned or buried. Keep them in a safe place until final disposal can be arranged. Empty, rinsed containers may be disposed of with household garbage.
Management by Commercial Users or by Farmers
Empty commercial product containers
CleanFarms runs annual collection drives for empty containers. Empty containers, rinsed and without caps and booklets, are accepted at participating retailers’ collection sites. Labels must remain glued to the containers. The same applies to bags that were used to market pesticide-treated seeds.
To limit the number of empty containers in the environment, many enterprises offer factory-filled and sealed reusable deposit containers. After use, non-rinsed containers are returned to the depot of the enterprise. Another option is to use water-soluble packaging.
Leftover slurry
Slurry is the result of mixing a pesticide with water. In order to avoid overage, estimate as accurately as possible the amount of slurry to be applied based on the area to be treated and the recommended application rate.
Overage can be saved for later application or used on an area that has not yet been treated but requires the same treatment. Do not dump excess slurry into the sewer system or in a place where the excess could be harmful to health and the environment.
Rinsate
The water used to rinse empty containers acquires low concentrations of pesticides. It must be applied to the previously treated area if doing so does not interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment. If this type of disposal is not appropriate, it is preferable to spray the rinsate in a low-risk area, more than 50 metres from streams, lakes, or wells. It must not be discharged into the sewer system or in a place where it could be harmful to health and the environment.
Pesticide injection systems installed on sprayers are recommended as they mix pesticide concentrate and water immediately before passing through the nozzles. Water-soluble packaging, which minimizes rinsate, and returnable containers, are also recommended.
Unwanted or expired pesticides
Intact containers of unwanted products can be returned to suppliers. CleanFarms also runs a secure collection and disposal program for approved expired or unwanted pesticides every three years.
Unwanted or expired pesticides that have hazmat properties must be recycled or disposed of by authorized Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) permit holders. The list of addresses of authorized permit holders is available from MELCCFP regional offices.
Consult the properties of pesticides classified as hazardous materials to learn more (in French only)..
Pesticide spills
If you witness a spill, immediately notify Urgence-Environnement. Stop the spill and contain the liquids by surrounding them with absorbent materials. These materials will be considered pesticide waste, even in the case of a minor spill.
Quickly cover the product with a thick layer of absorbent material such as cat litter or newspaper. Wait for the material to absorb the product before disposing of it. Avoid spraying the material with water. Place the material in a plastic bag and send it to a facility authorized to receive hazardous materials. The waste must be recycled or disposed of by holders of authorizations from the MELCCFP.
In the event of a spill on the ground, the contaminated soil must be excavated and treated as pesticide waste. All containers of pesticide-impregnated soil and/or absorbent materials must be sealed, labelled and stored in a safe place until disposal by a licensed waste management company. Never use water to dilute spilled pesticides.
In the event of soil contamination, the soil must be recovered and cleaned or treated on site. If this cannot be done, remove the contaminated materials from the affected area and ship them to an authorized facility.
See also
Pesticides Management Code - Reference Manual (PDF 7.44 Mb) (in French only)
Pesticide Information Kit (in French only)
Last update: January 23, 2026