Proper storage of pesticides reduces the risks they pose to health and the environment. You will avoid contaminating water, air and soil, reducing the negative impact on biodiversity, and you will protect children, who are more at risk because of their physiology and behaviour. It also ensures that pesticides are properly stored and that their containers and labels are not tampered with.
Domestic Pesticides
Domestic pesticides (classes 4 and 5) are sold in hardware stores and garden centers for personal use. They are labelled or marked “HOME” on the container.
If you store domestic pesticides, make sure you :
Leave them in their original containers;
Do not transfer them to food containers to prevent them from being ingested by mistake;
Store them in a locked area.
Commercial, Agricultural and Industrial Pesticides
These pesticides are Class 1 to 3 and are usually unformulated or undiluted.
If you store these pesticides, be sure to:
Select a location where environmental conditions will not affect the product and its packaging;
Have equipment and absorbent materials to clean up quickly if there is a pesticide leak or spill. See the Pesticide Waste page for more information;
Post a list of services (PDF 459 KB), such as the Poison Control Centre, in an easily accessible location. In addition, the “Danger” sign (PDF 69 KB) can be posted next to this regulatory sign;
Immediately notify Urgence-Environnement if a fire breaks out following a spill and you are storing at least 1,000 liters or 1,000 kilograms of unprepared or undiluted pesticides.
Here are some good practices to adopt:
Maintain a list of the different products stored and post it in the storage area. Keep a copy for your records as well.
Keep Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for stored pesticides and post them outside the storage area.
Specific rules for Class 1, 2 or 3 pesticides
Do not store these pesticides:
Within 30 metres of a lake or watercourse;
Within 100 metres of a Class 1 or 2 water withdrawal site or a water withdrawal site for the production of spring or mineral water;
Within 30 metres of a Category 3 water withdrawal site or any other groundwater withdrawal site;
In a 0-20 year flood zone;
In a 20-100 year flood zone, with some exceptions.
Make sure you respect these distances by consulting the flood zones mapped or identified by a land use planning and development plan or by a municipal planning by-law.
For unprepared or undiluted Class 1, 2 or 3 pesticides, you must store them in an area with a retention facility:
if you have a permit for sale (Class A or Sub-Class B1), for ornamental horticulture (C4 or D4) or for extermination (C5)
if you store more than 100 liters or 100 kilograms of pesticides for more than 15 consecutive days.
A retention facility is a watertight floor, platform or basin designed to contain any spills or leaks of pesticides and allow for their full recovery.
If you store unprepared or undiluted pesticides that are intended for sale or for use in paid work, you must have liability insurance.
If your pesticides are stored in a tank or portable tank, be aware of the requirements.
Source : quebec.ca