Did you ever wonder what’s in those old pesticide containers in the cellar? Chances are, you don’t want to know.

“Obsolete pesticides are a quiet crisis in Maine,” said Paul Gregory, information officer for the state Board of Pesticides Control.

Chemicals such as DDT, chlordane, lead arsenate and 2,4,5-T have been banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency because of health or environmental dangers. The sale or use of obsolete pesticides is prohibited by law, and the materials are considered to be hazardous wastes.

Unused chemicals tend to accumulate over time, turning some old homesteads into miniature Superfund sites. A landowner could pay hundreds of dollars to properly dispose of a pint of DDT legally through a licensed hazardous waste transporter. Instead, the chemicals often are dumped on the ground or put in the garbage.

Gregory said the illegal disposal of pesticides can damage the environment, expose sanitation workers to unnecessary health risks or threaten a home’s water supply.

To reduce the dangers, the pesticides control board has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the EPA to pick up obsolete chemicals at four sites in Maine this summer. The materials will be sent to licensed disposal facilities in other states.

“We haven’t seen this level of funding since the 1980s, when the Legislature provided us with $100,000 to collect nearly 45 tons of obsolete materials,” said Gregory.

Because the cost of disposal is so high, the board can collect only a small amount of pesticides, first-come, first-served.

“Folks need to reserve their place as well as tell us what’s in their inventory so we can prepare the required transportation papers,” said Gregory.

Maine residents can call the board at 287-2731 to arrange for proper disposal of their obsolete chemicals at no cost. First, however, they should compile a list of product names, amounts, and the condition of containers.