The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) announced today that the Michigan Clean Sweep Program has now safely disposed of more than four million pounds of potentially hazardous pesticide containers since its creation in 1996. The milestone follows a record-breaking year in 2025, when the program collected nearly 280,000 pounds of old or excess pesticide products—the largest annual total in Clean Sweep history.

"Old pesticides tucked away in barns, basements and storage sheds can pose serious risks to children, pets and the environment,"  said MDARD Director Tim Boring. "Michigan's Clean Sweep Program offers a free and easy way to protect your family and our natural resources through safe disposal of unwanted pesticides."

The Clean Sweep Program is open to Michigan residents, agribusinesses, greenhouses, nurseries and golf courses who seek assistance disposing of excess or unwanted pesticides. Interested participants should contact the nearest Clean Sweep collection site for details, as collection procedures, accepted materials and participation requirements may vary by location.

Pesticide dealers and individuals who sell and/or apply pesticides may also participate if they make arrangements in advance with the Clean Sweep collection site. At a minimum, participating agribusinesses are responsible for cataloging products for disposal, including the product name, EPA Registration Number and weight (with tare weight separated). Collections are for pesticides only; fertilizers are not accepted unless they are part of a pesticide formulation.

The Michigan Clean Sweep Program is made possible by a strong and unique state, federal, local and industry partnership. In 2025, MDARD awarded 19 Clean Sweep grants worth nearly $400,000 to support a total of 62 pesticide collection sites across the state. These grants enable participating Clean Sweep sites to accept old or unwanted pesticide products free of charge from any Michigan resident.

Clean Sweep collection schedules and procedures vary by county. Collection sites are not required to accept other types of household hazardous waste from residents outside their county.

Source - https://www.michigan.gov