On Thursday, Sept. 26 the NC Department of Agriculture in cooperation with the Polk County Extension Center is sponsoring a pesticide collection day.

On that date any North Carolina resident with leftover, unused or outdated pesticides can drop off their excess products at no cost.

If you have a product with a unreadable label, please attach a piece of paper with the product name written on the paper.

The collection will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 26 in front of the 4-H Center in Columbus at 135 Locust Street. Paints, paint thinners or chemicals other than pesticides will not be accepted.

Anyone with a single pesticide container larger than 5 gallons is asked to contact the Polk County Extension Center in advance of the collection day at 828-894-8218.

– article submitted by Sarah Gottfried