How to Dispose of Chemical Fertilizer
Chemical fertilizers, when used properly, can be indispensable for the myriad benefits they bring to soils and plants. But when used improperly, fertilizers can actually be hazardous to your plants, to animals and to people and the environment at large. Avoid these and other hazards by properly disposing of chemical fertilizers that you use in your garden. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Read the manufacturer's directions pertaining to the proper disposal of your fertilizer. Fertilizer manufacturers always print directions for the proper disposal of their products, and since each fertilizer uses a different chemical formulation, the best way to know how to properly dispose of your fertilizer is to always read the manufacturer's disposal directions and follow them exactly.
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Apply the fertilizer exactly according to the manufacturer's directions. This may seem an obvious step, but many pollution and disposal problems related to fertilizers occur because of simple overfertilization or improper application techniques. Take care especially to avoid fertilizer runoff into storm drains and other water sources, since fertilizer contamination of ground water is one of the chief pollution concerns surrounding fertilizer disposal.
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Dispose of liquid fertilizers in the garbage. Unless expressly forbidden by the product's disposal directions or by local or state laws, fertilizers can typically be thrown away in the garbage. "Liquid pesticides and fertilizers are the only liquid wastes that are allowed to be placed in the trash," notes the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association website, "because it is generally more hazardous to try to stabilize these wastes, especially for chemically sensitive individuals."
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