Large amounts of chemicals that could harm wildlife have been removed from Scottish farms thanks to a government amnesty on illegal pesticides.

The Scottish government’s pesticides disposal scheme was run between 23 February and 29 May this year, with the support of stakeholders in the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland.

The anonymous scheme offered a free and confidential service for those in possession of certain illegal pesticides to have them collected and professionally disposed of.  

See also: Calls for tighter rules on illegal pesticides

In total, 191 requests for disposal of illegal pesticides – totalling an estimated 722kg of chemicals – were fulfilled, some involving more than one type of pesticide.

More than 100kg of carbofuran, a known substance used in bird of prey poisonings, and more than 480kg of sodium cyanide products were safely removed.

Among other substances disposed of were:

• 68 stocks of Strychnine
• Nine stocks of Mevinphos
• Eight stocks of Chloralose or AlphaChloralose
• Five stocks of Aldicarb

Scotland’s environment and land reform minister Aileen McLeod said she was “very pleased” that the scheme had helped to remove a “large volume of highly dangerous, illegal pesticides from Scotland’s environment”.

Andrew McCornick of NFU Scotland said the scheme had made a “tangible difference” by helping farmers and crofters dispose of chemicals they knew were problematic.

Now that the scheme is closed, he encouraged anyone who has chemicals that they wish to dispose of, to do so safely and legally.

“The union will resolutely defend its members when they are unfairly targeted for legally carrying out their business, but it condemns anyone who commits any form of wildlife crime,” said Mr Cornick.