Nghe An: More than 10 tons of pesticide waste not treated

(Baonghean.vn) - Nghe An uses about 300 tons of various pesticides each year, equivalent to 15-20 tons of packaging. However, the amount of pesticide waste collected for treatment is very small.

Pesticide waste is strewn across the fields of Hoa Son commune, Do Luong district. Photo: Quang An

At this time, winter-spring rice is growing, there are many types of pests and diseases that harm rice, farmers have to use a large amount of chemical pesticides to spray and prevent them. Therefore, the amount of waste equal to pesticide packaging is thrown haphazardly on the banks, in the ditches, in the rice fields...

A trash bin is placed in the field of Hamlet 5, Hoa Son Commune, Do Luong District, but the amount of trash put in is very small. Photo: Quang An

In the fields of Hoa Son commune (Do Luong), although there are many agricultural waste bins placed along the internal roads, pesticide packaging of all kinds is thrown haphazardly on the banks of the fields or in the ditches, letting the water flow away.

Bac Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, received investment from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in 100 concrete trash bins placed in the commune’s rice fields. However, observations show that many trash bins are tilted and have lost their covers, and are not used by people. Meanwhile, there are all kinds of agricultural waste, especially pesticide packaging, scattered everywhere.

Many trash bins in Bac Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district have become useless. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Up to now, the whole province has placed about 1,600 pesticide waste collection bins in 10 districts, invested by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; the Department of Crop Production - Plant Protection and some localities. Accordingly, each year the Department of Crop Production - Plant Protection collects and treats 2 - 3 tons of pesticide waste according to safe procedures at one time. However, the amount of pesticide waste collected and treated is too small compared to the amount of pesticides used in reality (Nghe An uses about 300 tons of various pesticides each year, equivalent to about 15 tons of packaging).

According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, the amount of remaining pesticides accounts for 5-10% of the amount of pesticides in the packaging. Therefore, it is necessary to organize the collection of pesticide waste responsibly to avoid environmental pollution and affecting people's health./.

Xuan Hoang - Quang An