A pesticide with links to the Vietnam War has been handed in a HazMobile hazardous materials collection in Napier.
But the only surprise to veteran Auckland disposer of unwanted chemicals Ray McGregor was that the 2,4,5-T was that it came in an urban collection. Its production stopped in 1987 after years of protest over toxicity and its use as rainbow pesticide Agent Pink in Vietnam.
He said he had seen lots of it in drums in past collections from farms across Hawke's Bay, but a 20-litre container in a collection in Napier was rare.
Read more: Pesticides: Time to check shed for DDT chemicals
He conjectured that a farmer retiring and moving to town intended to use it for defoliating unnecessary growth around the new home but realised at some stage it wasn't necessary.