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MACON, MO -- Northeast Missouri residents had some free help of getting rid of unwanted pesticides.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources along with EQ Industrial Services held a pesticide pickup at Sydenstrickers in Macon Saturday.

This gave farmers and homeowners a chance to have their pesticides safely and legally disposed of by professionals.

This is done as an effort to prevent exposure of harmful chemicals to humans, animals, and the environment.

"A lot of people don't know what to do with these chemicals. They'll hold on to it for years and put it in their barns. The containers might start to break, crack, or leak. Eventually if they have a large amount of it, it could get into the ground water and contaminant the soil in a concentrated area," said EQ Industrial Services Director Scott Kluska.

The collection in Macon was the sixth of nine scheduled pickup events.

The next pickup will take place September 8 in Marshall.

For more information click here.