1 / 10

Retrieval of Banned Agrochemicals in South Africa: A Perspective

This article discusses the history, initiatives, and actions taken to retrieve and dispose of banned, obsolete, and unwanted agrochemicals in South Africa. It also highlights the challenges faced and opportunities for future retrieval efforts.

williamsdonald
Download Presentation

Retrieval of Banned Agrochemicals in South Africa: A Perspective

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. RETRIEVAL OF BANNED, OBSOLETE AND UNWANTED AGROCHEMICALS IN SOUTH AFRICAA PERSPECTIVEGerhard H VerdoornPoison Working GroupEndangered Wildlife Trust PO Box 72334Parkview 2122South Africanesher@ewt.org.za1

  2. THANKS TO GCPF (DR CHRIS WALLER) FOR FUNDINGAdministrative structure2

  3. History of the SA retrieval schemeAVCASA initiated national survey in 1994Estimated 400 tonnes of products!Did brief cost analysis - ZAR4 millionPresented National Department of Agriculture (NDA) with the factsNDA decided to put out tenders!Tenders were postponed three times!End of 1996 no progress!3

  4. Initiatives taken by the PWG and AVCASAPWG wrote to Agriculture Ministry on 5 January 1998Insisted on action to be taken immediatelyRecommended appointing AVCASA as principal for retrieval schemeRecommended scrapping tender processAVCASA and PWG reviewed all existing tenders Selected two feasible optionsCalculated costs of total operationOffered NDA a R8 million scheme based on 800 tonnes 4

  5. Actions implementedNDA appointed AVCASA to manage schemeNDA pledged R8.5 million to schemeContracts drawn up between NDA andAVCASAAVCASA employed project managerAVCASA approached RECHEM, Waste Tech and transport companies for quotesAVCASA and PWG planned strategyPWG implemented information campaign5

  6. Project initiated in April 19981st phaseTotal audit of stocks ~ 850 tonnes65 Primary & 5 main collection centres establishedRECHEM and Waste Tech awarded contractsPWG implemented 24 hr information service2nd phaseIndividuals and institutions delivered stocks to primarycollection centresLarge volume stocks collected - PWG & AVCASAStrict records and audit sheets maintainedStocks sorted into chemical classes at primary centres6

  7. 3rd phaseStocks moved to main collection centresUnknown products analysedChemical classes grouped togetherUN, SA and UK certification acquiredFinal phase760 Tonnes shipped to Rechem for incinerationRest (300 tonnes) accommodated locally in landfill, ash blend, lime treatment & concrete bunkering7

  8. ProblemsSA currency depreciated dramatically!Arsenic - no solution to the problem! Solutions to problemsNDA granted R3 million moreGTZ granted R300,000 (used for Namibia)Arsenic kept sealed and in bondNegotiations with various institutions to recycle arsenic 8

  9. Obsolete and unwanted pesticides and empty container strategyJoint AVCASA and PWG ventureHoping to establish ~15 national centresRetrieve remaining stocks ~50 tonnes(PWG survey underway)Create ‘buy only as you need’ cultureCreate ‘FIFO’ culture Assist with cycling of unwanted pesticide stocksGet buy in from all stake holdersPublic awareness campaign9

  10. Barriers Government complacency Actions & participation Funding Industry reluctant to fund Farming industry Expect someone else to do Incineration facilities No large scale facility Opportunities Keen and experienced individuals PWG, AVCASA, ACDASA Government funding Willing to fund partially Workable infrastructure Previous scheme was an enormous success10 Barriers and opportunities

More Related