Pesticide storage cabinet: inspect the products and location
Choose a farm pesticide storage cabinet around each product's storage instructions. Check security, ventilation, package condition, separation from food and access to emergency information. Small portable-container storage is regulated federally through pesticide labels; state and local requirements also apply.
Use the UF/IFAS PI33 pesticide storage checklist, revised April 2025, to organize the inspection. Table 1 has a Date of Inspection and Yes/No questions covering general information, containers, spills and disposal, and safety information. Enter the date you actually inspect the storage area.
Establish which storage activity you operate
Federal container regulations establish standards for packaging, repackaging and container cleaning instructions. Users must follow the label instructions when cleaning and handling empty containers.
The federal containment provisions cover specified refillers, custom blenders and businesses applying agricultural pesticides for compensation, subject to stationary-container or dispensing-area conditions.
Storage instructions on the label
Read each label's storage and disposal section. They give temperature limits, moisture protection, incompatibilities and packaging instructions.
Keep labels legible, packages tightly closed and the storage area organized.
Inspect flooding, drainage and ignition risks
Choose a location protected from flooding and leaks into wells, drains, groundwater or surface water.
Obtain applicable fire, building and zoning requirements for the proposed location.
Store pesticides beyond children's and pets' reach, preferably in a locked, ventilated utility space or shed. Separate them from food, feed and medical supplies. Keep flammable liquids away from ignition sources, including furnaces and powered equipment.
Use warning signs and controlled access for the storage area. Provide a separate clean location for ordinary protective clothing and respirators. Under WPS, clean PPE must be kept apart from personal clothing and away from pesticide-contaminated areas.
Pesticide storage locker, cabinet and shelving: inspect shelving, floors and containers
Use nonabsorbent shelving and cleanable, nonporous flooring. Moisture can damage packaging and labels; temperature extremes can damage containers or deteriorate pesticides.
Keep pesticides in their identified packaging. Never transfer them into beverage bottles or containers that could be mistaken for food or drink. Isolate an unidentified container from usable stock and obtain disposal instructions without guessing its contents.
Record leaks, damaged packaging, clumping, layering or unusual appearance. Refer shelf-life and deterioration questions to the dealer or manufacturer with the product identity and storage history.
Separate empty containers intended for recycling or disposal from usable stock. Follow each container's cleaning, rinsing and disposal instructions. Refillable and nonrefillable packaging have different handling arrangements; identify the package type before preparing it for collection.
Protect labels and packaging from dampness
Moisture rusts metal containers and can split or crumble paper and cardboard. Labels can peel or smear; dry formulations can clump, degrade or dissolve.
For a dedicated storage room, assess insulated or temperature-controlled construction and exhaust ventilation to the exterior. Lighting must allow handlers to read labels and detect corrosion or leaks.
Keep your spray records in one place. Free to start.
Choose sealed cement, glazed ceramic tile or suitable sheet flooring for a cleanable surface. Carpeting, wood and soil absorb contamination and are difficult to decontaminate. Store heavy containers and liquids on lower shelves.
Prepare for spills and fire
Check that cleanup materials suit the chemicals actually stored and that emergency contacts are available. Inspect nonporous surfaces and the route to the spill supplies.
Pesticide inventory template: reconcile stock and documents
Compare containers with purchase, application and disposal records. Maintain a current onsite inventory, mark purchase dates on containers, and retain labels and safety data sheets.
Make each inventory row traceable
Link the row to its label and SDS so the person receiving or issuing stock can locate the correct documents. Mark the purchase date on the container and reconcile remaining quantities against completed applications.
Keep condition observations separate from quantity. A container can still appear in the stock balance while its contents await manufacturer advice or a disposal decision.
Review previous usage before purchasing more. A changed formulation, canceled application or unwanted container can alter the order needed for the coming season. Avoid storing large quantities for long periods.
Transport pesticide label, shipping papers and placards
Before loading, check each package, whether a cardboard box or a metal drum, to be sure the manufacturer has labeled and marked it properly. When you carry a hazardous pesticide on a public road, the shipping papers travel in the passenger compartment within your reach, with an emergency response telephone number on them, and the SDS for each product goes with them. A vehicle is placarded when it carries a bulk container of more than 119 gallons or more than 1,000 pounds of a pesticide from Hazardous Materials Table II, or any amount of a pesticide from Table I. A farmer moving pesticides between fields of the same farm, as a private carrier within the state, is excepted from the DOT hazmat rules on roads other than the interstate system, but the exception does not cover hauling pesticides for someone else for pay.
Resolve unwanted stock before transport
For leftover product, read the disposal directions and contact the appropriate waste authority, environmental agency or collection program. State the product, quantity, packaging and agricultural origin.
Pesticide disposal and container recycling
Separate leftover pesticide, contaminated cleanup waste, empty nonrefillable packaging and returnable containers. Agricultural or commercial disposal programs, often called Clean Sweep, provide a route for farm stocks.
Keep pesticide waste out of water
Never pour pesticides into a sink, toilet, sewer or street drain. Follow the product's disposal instructions and use the appropriate collection route when remaining material cannot be used properly. Mix only the amount needed for a job to reduce future leftovers.
Pesticides remain regulated under FIFRA until disposal; disposed material falls under RCRA waste requirements.
Prepare containers for the correct program
Many containers can be recycled after emptying and thorough rinsing. Keep leftover concentrate and contaminated waste in their appropriate disposal streams.
Next step
The PI33 storage checklist, the product label and the EPA safe disposal page cover storage and unwanted stock.