The Montana Department of Agriculture announced on March 16 that it will facilitate spring pesticide disposal events during the week of April 7 to 9, 2026, in Kalispell, Plains, and Missoula.
According to the department, the primary objective of the Montana Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program is “to have a lasting impact on the health and water quality of the upper Columbia River Basin (CRB), knowing that protecting the upper basin will also have a sustained positive effect downstream.” The Environmental Protection Agency’s Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program began in 2016 to improve monitoring and make a positive impact in the region. Since its inception in 1994, annual pesticide waste collection events have collected nearly 884,000 pounds of pesticide waste from over 1,900 participants.
“When it comes [to] the disposal of pesticide products, Montana has limited options. Year after year, this program continues to ensure that waste product is properly disposed of in a manner that is also environmentally friendly,” Carli Davis of the department’s Pesticide Disposal and Container Recycling Programs said. The program assists individuals with disposing pesticides that are unusable as originally intended or cannot be used for any other purpose. The initiative aims to protect Montana’s ecosystems and groundwater as well as families, pets, livestock and drinking water from potentially hazardous materials.
The spring event schedule includes Kalispell on April 7, Plains on April 8, and Missoula on April 9. Pre-registration is required by March 31, 2026. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no charge for disposing up to 200 pounds; amounts over this limit incur a fee of $1 per pound with products weighed onsite. Additional fees may apply for pesticides containing dioxins or dioxin precursors.
The Montana Department of Agriculture contributes to community well-being by protecting agricultural producers, consumers and the environment via its regulatory and promotional efforts according to the official website. The department promotes prosperity in Montana’s top industry through more than thirty programs aimed at market growth as well as licensing and regulatory services that safeguard farmers and consumers according to its official website. It operates statewide facilities including grain inspection services at the Montana State Grain Lab in Great Falls according to its official website.
For more information about registration or department programs and services related to these events visit agr.mt.gov or contact Carli Davis at (406) 465-0531 according to the official roster page.
