Need for synchronous participation in collecting and treating plant protection waste

PV:Waste packaging and pesticide bottles after use in the fields are considered hazardous waste to the environment as well as human health. Could you share the current situation of this waste source in Nghe An province?
Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:Although in recent years, in line with the general trend, agriculture has undergone many changes towards commodity production and concentration, however, agricultural production in Vietnam in general, and Nghe An in particular, is still fragmented, small-scale and traditional. In such production conditions, the use of pesticides is inevitable if productivity is desired.

It is worth mentioning that the widespread use of pesticides, based on experience and "movements", seeing neighbors spraying, we also spray, seeing pests and diseases, we spray even though the control threshold has not been reached; the situation of mixing and increasing dosage to achieve quick results is not uncommon.

This situation leads to a large amount of pesticides used in our province, and a large amount of pesticide packaging and bottles. Meanwhile, this amount of hazardous waste is mainly made of nylon and plastic bottles, which are very difficult to decompose and can last for decades, even hundreds of years in natural conditions.

PV: Since 2017, Nghe An has implemented the project "Building a system of tanks to collect and treat packaging and bottles of pesticides after use in the fields, and educating people about the harmful effects of pesticide residues on humans and the community". Since then, how has it contributed to the treatment of this type of waste in the area, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:The program is implemented first in the key agricultural production districts of the province and has a need to build a reservoir system. After the first locality to implement the program was Yen Thanh district, up to now, in addition to the efforts of the localities, our province has supported the budget to build a reservoir system in the districts of Do Luong, Thanh Chuong, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu...
In general, although the tank system has not been closed according to regulations, there are still some problems in the collection process, especially in the treatment of waste after collection. However, since the program, up to now, in localities that have received support for implementation, the collection and concentration of plant protection waste has changed very positively.

That reality shows that if we invest in building a tank system that meets regulations in terms of quantity, specifications and quality, it will contribute significantly to overcoming the situation of pesticide waste being dumped haphazardly in the fields, protecting the soil and water environment.
However, with an area of ​​nearly 154,000 hectares of land for rice, vegetables and short-term crops that can be used to collect pesticide packaging and bottles after use, Nghe An must build 51,330 new tanks to meet the requirements according to regulations. With the current number of tanks, only meeting part of the demand, the whole province still lacks more than 33,000 tanks. In particular, some localities have built very few tanks, some localities have almost no tanks such as: Tuong Duong, Ky Son...
Along with that, the problem of handling packaging waste and pesticide bottles has not met the requirements. Currently, due to financial difficulties, each year we only collect and handle according to safe procedures about 2.5 tons of pesticide waste, accounting for about 3.6% of the packaging. In most localities in the province, the collection and handling of this type of hazardous waste according to regulations can be said to be insignificant. Requiring the province and all levels of sectors and localities to balance and arrange funding sources for collection and disposal according to regulations.

PV:Given that situation, could you please tell us about the future direction and solutions that need to be specially implemented?
Mr. Nguyen Tien Duc:In order to cover the tank system, raise awareness among people and producers about the collection and treatment of pesticide waste, in the coming years, the Plan "Building a tank system to collect and treat pesticide packaging and bottles after use in the fields, and educating people about the harmful effects of pesticide residues on humans and the community" will continue to be implemented, with priority given to investment in construction in areas with concentrated agricultural production land and large amounts of pesticides used. Along with that, propaganda work on the collection and treatment of pesticide waste will continue to be promoted to the people.
However, to meet practical requirements, it is necessary to have a synchronous and unanimous participation. Along with the support of the province, localities must also promote internal resources, mobilize the contributions of the community to join hands in building reservoirs; at the same time, have measures to manage and improve the efficiency of waste collection and treatment. Strengthen propaganda and training in the management of pesticide packaging to raise awareness and capacity for district and commune-level officials; heads of villages, hamlets, unions, those who collect pesticide packaging and people in this issue; limit the situation of littering waste and pesticide packaging, gradually bringing the collection and treatment of pesticide waste into a systematic and professional manner.

PV: Thank you!