Pesticides contain chemicals that can be harmful to soil, water, and wildlife if not disposed of correctly. Improper disposal methods can pose significant risks to farmworkers, their families, and communities.
Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, operations and stewardship manager at CropLife South Africa, alongside compliance specialist Quade Sing Jam and stewardship specialist Hiresh Ramanand, discusses critical compliance issues under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. This important legislation classifies pesticide containers and obsolete pesticides as hazardous waste, requiring stringent disposal protocols.
Verdoorn explains, “Any material contaminated with pesticides or obsolete pesticides is considered hazardous.”
Correct handling of empty containers
However, the South African National Standard (SANS) 10406 allows triple-rinsed empty pesticide containers to be treated as non-hazardous waste, reducing some regulatory burdens. Despite this, obsolete pesticides remain hazardous and must be handled by licensed waste management companies.
Meanwhile, Jam warns that pesticide containers and obsolete pesticides must not be burned or buried. Improper disposal methods, such as burning or burying can lead to toxic fumes, soil contamination, and polluted water sources.
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Ramanand emphasises the importance of recycling. “Empty pesticide containers should be recycled or used for energy recovery through incineration,” he says.
Since 2017, hazardous waste cannot be dumped in landfills due to environmental risks. Recycling helps minimise pollution and supports economic growth by creating jobs in the recycling industry.
By adhering to proper disposal practices, you contribute to a healthier environment, protecting your land and the well-being of future generations.
In this episode, they also discuss:
- Steps for recycling empty containers; and
- Steps for managing old pesticides.
Dive deeper into the episode and gain insights from the award-winning Farmer’s Inside Track, officially recognised as Africa and the world’s best podcast at the 2024 Digital Media Awards presented by WAN-IFRA, the global press organisation.
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