SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- The Illinois Department of Agriculture plans to help farmers and others in eight northwestern counties get rid of unwanted pesticides and other farm chemicals.

The department plans to collect containers of these chemicals this summer in Carroll, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island, Stephenson and Whiteside counties.

Warren Goetsch is bureau chief of the department's Environmental Programs.

He says the Clean Sweep program is free to use and is paid for by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Farmers, nursery owners and others can sign up with the Department of Agriculture.

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On the Net: http://www.agr.state.il.us/ 

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