Ha Tinh City: Efficiency from the model of pesticide waste collection tank

Spring from the current status of pesticide waste in Ha Tinh City (Ha Tinh province) has not been properly collected and treated, most of it is discharged in the field and not managed and treated. such as hazardous waste, Ha Tinh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Farmers' Associations, and People's Committees of communes and wards coordinated to implement the Model of collection and treatment of pesticide packaging.

Entering decisively

With a total area of agricultural production land in Ha Tinh province of nearly 140,000 hectares, agriculture is the main industry attracting a large number of labor force. Although bringing certain values, the agricultural sector of Ha Tinh province is increasing pressure on the environment with the waste of pesticides. Most pesticide packaging is made from plastic, nylon is too difficult to decompose. After use, there is still a certain amount of pesticide residue, which is diffused into the soil, and irrigation water and seeps into the groundwater directly polluting the ecosystem. However, the awareness of farmers is still not high, leading to arbitrarily discarding the packaging of plant protection drugs in the fields, canals, etc.

The figures from Ha Tinh Province's Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-Department showed average figures of Ha Tinh farmers use nearly 220 tons of pesticides to control pests each year, which means a huge amount of packaging and bottles are discarded. Post-usable, people often get used to throwing these types of packaging, bottles, and jars right in the field, in the ditch, etc. 

Troops collect waste pesticides in Ha Tinh City

In dealing with this situation, Ha Tinh province advanced in many options, of which, worth mentioning is the model of building a waste collection tank for pesticides right at the production site.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh City and the Farmers' Association have coordinated to implement the Model of collection and treatment of plant protection drug packaging. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is the main focal point, manages and is responsible for hiring a functional unit (hazardous waste management license) to collect and process pesticide packaging in the area of Ha Tinh City. The Farmers' Union is responsible for operating a working group to collect plant protection drug packaging waste from gathering points in the field to a centralized tank convenient for the collection unit after each crop. Expected to 2-3 times/year.

The goal of raising people's awareness and sense of responsibility in using and disposing of waste, and pesticides; improve the efficiency of management, use, collection, transportation, and treatment of plant protection drug packages; environmental pollution prevention, community health protection; 100% of communes and wards (with agricultural production land) in Ha Tinh city have tanks for post-usable plant protection drug waste; 100% of plant protection drug packaging after use is collected into storage tanks and treated following to stipulations.

The paradigm of pesticide waste collection in Ha Tinh City

According to a representative of Ha Tinh City's Department of Natural Resources and Environment: 
Phase 1 (from November 2022 to May 2023), building facilities and operating a model with 07 large tanks of 6-12m3; 195 small tanks of 0.6m3, of which the Project (concrete tank/roller construction model) supports 105 tanks; 08 garbage trolleys collected from small tanks to large tanks; 80 sets of labor protection tools; 40 local propaganda campaigns; 16 teams to manage plant protection drug packaging tanks; More than 400 farmers are directly involved in the collection.    Phase 2 (from May 2023 to December 2023), continuing to propagate and mobilize, local authorities to build and supplement 270 missing small tanks, and actively collect pesticide packaging in small tanks. in the field to the concentration tank. Ha Tinh City's Department of Natural Resources and Environment hands over the waste to the unit with the function of collecting treating, monitoring, and evaluating the results.

The initial results

As estimated by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh city, this mock-up has contributed to reducing plastic waste pollution; and minimizing soil and water pollution from pesticide residues in packaging after use. Currently, agricultural production strengthens the management of waste leading to the model being sustainable and scalable.

In 2022, the Project supported the construction of 105 small tanks with a volume (0.6m3) containing pesticide packaging in the field; 08 garbage trucks to the gathering point; 08 packages of labor protection tools for wards and communes,...

After receiving the facilities and protective equipment, the Farmers' Union in 08 communes and wards built a team to collect garbage and protect the environment with the target: Mobilizing farmers in the area to collect garbage in small tanks - containing post-usable pesticide packaging installed in the field; the group is responsible for collecting all the garbage in small tanks after each season to the centralized tank and contacting the City's Department of Natural Resources and Environment to solve on the right way. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is the main point, which is responsible for hiring a functional unit (has a license to manage hazardous waste) to collect and process pesticide packaging in Ha Tinh city. The Farmers' Union is expected 2-3 times per year that responsible for operating a working group to collect pesticide packaging waste from gathering points in the field to a centralized tank that is convenient for waste collectors after each crop. 

The city expects the project will thoroughly collect pesticide waste throughout the city with a quantity of 01 ton per year when completed. The whole amount of this hazardous waste will be treated by an appropriate method by a functional unit in the province with the city's budget.

According to the Farmers' Union of Ha Tinh city, in the first quarter of 2023, the number of collected to 525 kg by 08 participating communes was supported to build storage tanks for plant protection products. By May 2023, the project has supported the construction of 07 concentration tanks with a volume of 6-12m3 to collect pesticide packaging before transporting it for treatment.

Pesticide waste collection tanks in Ha Tinh City

In the coming time, the Project will continue to work with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh City to promote the management, collection, and treatment of all this waste by regulations.

In addition, the project continues to support the construction of 08 tanks to concentrate pesticide packaging before transporting for treatment, with a size of 6-12m3/tank. The Farmers' Union's duty is collecting packaging from small tanks in the field to centralized storage tanks and waste transshipment. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh City is responsible for performing a contract with a functional unit to collect and process all plant protection drug packaging by the provisions of the law.

A representative of Ha Tinh province's Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the construction of a plant protection drug waste collection tank has significantly contributed to limiting the situation of indiscriminate dumping in the fields, polluting soil and water sources. Ha Tinh has been determined, along with environmental protection activities, to have supportive solutions to block pollution sources from pesticides, bring environmental protection to achieve effective results, contributing to the protection of people's health and sustainable economic development.

Overall, it may be said that Ha Tinh is striving and trying to build a model for other localities to visit and study. After Ha Tinh city, there will be some similar models deployed, and implemented in Rach Gia, Kien Giang.

Source: www.tainguyenvamoitruong.vn