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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

    CHEMSWEEP

    CHEMSWEEP provides Pennsylvania farmers and other licensed pesticide applicators with a means to dispose of canceled, suspended or unwanted pesticide products.

    Over 3.2 million pounds of unwanted pesticides collected

    Through CHEMSWEEP, applicators can dispose of unwanted pesticides legally and often for free. Most waste pesticides are incinerated. The rest go to hazardous waste landfills.

    Every year, CHEMSWEEP operates in select counties. Licensed farmers, pesticide applicators, and businesses in these counties can join. If you're in agriculture, pest control, lawn care, or selling pesticides, check the CHEMSWEEP 2024 map. If your county is eligible, fill out the registration form linked on the right and submit it by March 31, 2024.

    Note - The Public Inventory Submissions website opens in December.

    A Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) inspector will verify pesticide inventories from farmers and licensed applicators. Then, PDA will arrange collections with a contractor, usually from July to October. CHEMSWEEP covers the first 2,000 pounds per participant.

    The program only accepts pesticides registered in the Commonwealth. These are called Universal Waste Pesticides. They will be collected and disposed of according to regulations. The contractor becomes the official generator of your waste pesticides at collection.

    Future Collections

    2024: Armstrong, Blair, Cambria, Chester, Clarion, Delaware, Forest, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Snyder, Somerset, Union, Venango, Wyoming.

    2025: Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Butler, Columbia, Cumberland, Fulton, Lawrence, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, York, and Warren.

    2026: Adams, Allegheny, Beaver, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Franklin, Jefferson, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Potter, Washington.

    2027: Bucks, Crawford, Dauphin, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lycoming, Mercer, Mifflin, Montgomery, Perry, Philadelphia, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Westmoreland.

    For Homeowners

    CHEMSWEEP is not a homeowner-oriented pesticide disposal program. If you are a homeowner wishing to disposal of home and garden pesticides or other household waste items like used oil, paint, solvents, cleaners, etc., please see DEP's Household Hazardous Waste Program or contact your county solid waste authority.

    For HHW Sponsors

    If you are a municipal entity and wish to sponsor a Household Hazardous Waste collection event, it may be possible for you to utilize the CHEMSWEEP contract for your event. Please contact James Cunningham for additional information.

    ​Contact

    James Cunningham
    Pesticide Container & Containment Regulation
    ChemSweep
    Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling
    Pesticides in Groundwater Monitoring

    (717) 772-5210
    jgcunningh@pa.gov


    Resources

    Public Inventory Submissions