Welsh Water has extended its registration window for farmers, growers and land managers in Wales to dispose of unwanted pesticides and herbicides.

The company says its free PestSmart project has proved extremely popular.

PestSmart encourages people across Wales to consider ‘smarter’ ways of weed, pest and disease control that do not impact on people, water or wildlife.

Ian Christie, managing director of water services at Welsh Water, explains: “Our routine raw water monitoring programme has detected increasing traces of pesticides in areas we have never seen them before.

"While these levels are too low to pose a risk to those drinking the water, they are enough to risk breaching rigorous drinking water standards so we want to work with farmers, growers and land managers to take action to address this issue together.

“Even the most organised of land managers can find themselves with an out of date or now unlicensed product which can be difficult or expensive to dispose of correctly.

"To help them, we are launching a free ‘no questions asked’ disposal scheme to safely take away any unwanted pesticides and herbicides.

“We know that pesticides form an essential and everyday role in the agricultural community. However, if stored, used or disposed of incorrectly, they can have a devastating impact on people, water and wildlife.

"By providing this free scheme across Wales, we want to work with land managers to reduce the risk of pollution and safeguard raw water quality before it reaches our water treatment works.”

Minister for Climate Change, Julie James said: “This is a great initiative by Dŵr Cymru and I’d encourage all farmers, growers and land managers to register for the free pesticide disposal scheme.

“Minimising the impact of pesticides on the environment is an essential part of responding to the ecological crisis, protecting Wales’ watercourses for future generations.”

The scheme is available throughout Wales and available for a limited time on a first come, first served basis.

To register, visit dwrcymru.com/disposalscheme or call 01443 452716 by no later than 5pm on Friday, September 10. Your details will be securely transferred to Welsh Water’s appointed hazardous waste contractor who will contact you for further details before collecting your unwanted pesticides and herbicides on a pre-arranged date.

Terms and conditions apply and are available on the Welsh Water website.