Environmental Protection

Helping you protect the environment from the effects of pesticides is one of the Pesticide Safety Education Program's main missions.

Butterfly on flowers

Environmental Protection Publications from Nebraska Extension: These publications offer information on pesticide safety, including sensitive environments, endangered species protection, stormwater management, rinsing containers, spray drift, and cleaning application equipment.

Pesticide Container Recycling Program: Find a container-recycling site near you. This program recycles triple- or pressure-rinsed pesticide (and crop oil, adjuvant, surfactant) containers (1.0 or 2.5 gallons) or crop protection chemical drums (15, 30, or 55 gallons). Household pesticide containers are not accepted through this program.

Nebraska DriftWatch: Applicators can use this website to determine if commercial specialty crops or beehives are near a planned pesticide application site, alowing them to adjust their procedures (timing or application method) accordingly. Listings on the registry are voluntary. More information from the NDA for applicators.

Herbicide Stewardship: Herbicides are critical tools for controlling noxious, invasive, and/or undesirable vegetation in a wide variety of situations. However, herbicide use also comes with risks. Applicators have an obligation to use these products responsibly, not only to achieve effective pest control but also to protect nontargets and ensure that herbicides remain available for pest management. This includes complying with increasingly complex label requirements.

Water Protection: All pesticide and fertilizer users should be mindful of protecting groundwater and surface water from contamination.

Hazardous Waste Disposal: Pesticide disposal, household hazardous waste disposal, business waste disposal, and recycling programs in Nebraska.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): This general permit for pesticides became effective on November 1, 2011.

EPA Pesticide Resources: At the federal level, pesticides are primarily regulated by the EPA. Find information on a wide variety of pesticide-related topics.

Burning Empty Pesticide Containers: If you are unable to recycle or landfill your containers, some product labels allow you to burn them. Here's what you need to know about legally burning empty pesticide containers.