Pesticides serve a great purpose to humans, as they are effective in ridding the home of unwanted pests. However, pesticides aren’t just harmful to pests; they may also be harmful to human beings and their pets. Pesticides must be disposed of and stored properly after use. Improper disposal or storage can be hazardous to the health and the environment of humans. All pesticides should be stored in a locked room or cabinet, and should be out of reach from children and pets.  

They must also be kept in a cool, dry, ventilated and well-lighted place. The storage space should also protect against temperature extremes. Pesticides should only be stored in their original containers and the label of the container should be visible and readable. The pesticides without labels should never be lent to other people, because the written instructions are vital to safe use, and verbal instructions tend to be unreliable. All items used for handling pesticides, such as measuring and mixing implements should be labeled as well to prevent accidental use.   

Pet litter and a broom and dustpan may be handy in pesticide storage areas to clean up any spilled chemicals. Other household products, such as hydrated lime, household bleach and detergent can also be used to help decontaminate the storage area. Containers that are stored for long periods of time in damp areas can rust and fall apart when lifted, which can lead to large amounts of toxic material in a small area. It is called point source contamination, which can result in ground-and-surface water contamination, as well as present a hazard to humans and animals in the area of the spill. Some old pesticides should be disposed of, because they can become outdated, and ineffective.

There are many signs that a pesticide may be too old for use, and the signs vary with each type of pesticide. For example, oil sprays may form sludge and the solution may separate; wet-able powders may develop lumps and will not mix with water; and granules may develop excessive lumping. Proper storage of pesticides includes first reading the label to identify how products should be stored. Directions should be followed to ensure proper storage, as labels will be helpful in identifying how pesticides will be affected by high temperatures and by freezing temperatures, so that users will be able to store in the proper conditions. Ventilation and the proper lighting are also needed to keep humans safe from the effects of the chemicals in pesticides. A properly ventilated storage area can also prevent volatile chemicals from contaminating other materials in storage. Flammable pesticides should be stored outside of living areas in the home and away from ignition sources, such as furnaces, cars, and outdoor grills.

 Pesticides should also be kept off floors to prevent rusting and contamination from heavy rains or snow. Pesticides should not be stockpiled, and buying only the amount of pesticide that is needed for the first use and for possible future uses while the pest is active needs can reduce storage. Pesticides should never be stored in cabinets near food, animal feed and medical supplies, as they may contaminate these products. It is also important to tighten lids on the unused pesticides. Child-resistant packaging may be helpful, but it must be used correctly. To properly dispose of pesticides, the container should be wrapped in newspapers and placed in the trash. It may be helpful to keep an inventory on pesticides that are needed for later use; it is important to write down the product name, its active ingredients, date of purchase, and date of storage, and volume stored.

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