Like the successful schemes by Welsh Water …  United Utilities is offering farmers with unwanted, unlabelled or out-of-date chemicals in their sheds and stores the opportunity to get them safely disposed of free of charge and with no questions asked.

United Utilities ‘The water company is offering a pesticides and poisons amnesty to farmers in its drinking water catchments to prevent chemicals being poured down the drain or on to land and potentially polluting groundwater and watercourses in Cheshire.

Farmers eligible for the free service include those located in United Utilities’ River Dee, Llangollen Canal, River Dane and Cheshire Borehole drinking water safeguard zones.

Dr.Kate Snow, southern area catchment manager, explained:

“We run this offer regularly to allow farmers and landowners to dispose of illegal and out-of-date pesticides. This year, we’re widening the amnesty to include our Cheshire Borehole catchments.

“It’s illegal to store or use unapproved or out-of-date pesticides. However, many farmers have forgotten bottles and jars with unknown contents or stores of chemicals that they couldn’t use before the pesticide license expired or went out-of-date. It can be difficult and costly to legally dispose of these chemicals which is why we are offering this disposal scheme.’ Click here to read more