The danger of littering pesticide packaging

Pesticide packaging is thrown away mixed with household waste right next to the canal.

Leave it wherever is convenient.

Currently, in the fields from the basin to the highland districts, it is not difficult to see the image of pesticide bottles and packaging being thrown away by people after use. Although some fields have tanks to collect pesticide packaging, this situation is still common.

It is not difficult to see in the fields, old, faded pesticide bottles and packaging and many new types used lying among straw and grass on the banks of fields, under canals... In the agricultural production process, farmers have to use many types of pesticides such as: pesticides to kill golden apple snails, herbicides, various types of pests... but after using them, they just throw them away wherever they are convenient.

According to the people's explanation, because the pesticide packaging tank is quite far from the water source for spraying pesticides, or in some fields there is no collection tank, many people after using pesticides throw away the packaging and bottles right at the edge of the field.

Dien Bien is a province mainly engaged in agricultural production, with more than 120,350 hectares of production land, mainly grain crops (rice, corn) nearly 80,000 hectares, the remaining area is other crops. Therefore, the annual demand for pesticides is very large, an average of 100 - 130 tons/year, mainly herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, snail pesticides... Of which, pesticide shells account for about 10% of the total amount of pesticides, so there are about more than 10 tons of packaging shells discharged/year. In the winter-spring crop of 2023 - 2024, on rice alone, the whole province uses 26 tons of various pesticides.

Some collection tanks have lost their covers, and when it rains, pesticide residues seep into the soil and water, affecting the environment.

Alarm bell

Because many people use pesticides without following the “4 rights” principle (right medicine, right dose, right time, right way), pesticide residues remain in the packaging and bottles after use. This active ingredient will seep out with rainwater or canals, affecting the water, soil, air and groundwater; negatively impacting some aquatic species and human health. The situation becomes more polluted and leaves serious consequences if buried high up or thrown away at the source of water. In case the packaging is burned without following safe procedures, the risk of dioxin emissions is very high.

At the end of August 2023, Dien Bien District Medical Center received 20 cases of people from Co Puc village, Thanh Nua commune, hospitalized with headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. Through examination and testing, it was found that people drank water containing the active ingredient Diquat in the drug COCHAY 200 - Chay 24h. Previously, security guards of Nam Khau Hu Hydropower Plant sprayed this herbicide in the upstream area of the water source that these households took for use. Fortunately, it was discovered and treated promptly, so the lives of the people were not affected.

Authorities inspect pesticide trading establishments in Dien Bien district.

More worrying is that some businesses, for short-term profit, are still trading in pesticides that are not on the list of pesticides allowed to be circulated in Vietnam. Specifically, in 2022, through inspection of the owner of the THD pesticide business and trading establishment located in Quai Cang commune (Tuan Giao district), the authorities discovered that the establishment was trading in a type of pesticide that is not on the list of pesticides allowed to be used in Vietnam, namely 2768L burnt grass distributed by Vina Max Swiss Joint Stock Company, active ingredient Paraquat ion 200g/l; instructions for use to kill weeds on uncultivated land. The product is in a 150ml plastic bottle/bottle; quantity 86 bottles; no production date and batch number, expiry date 24 months.

Pesticide packaging is classified as hazardous waste. If not disposed of properly, it will affect the environment and human health; even if burned together with regular waste, it will cause serious air pollution, greatly affecting the ecosystem. Meanwhile, in Dien Bien, up to now, pesticide packaging has mainly been discharged into the environment or treated by collection, burial, and burning. This is not a thorough treatment method, because when buried, pesticide packaging takes many years to completely decompose. During this process, the remaining amount of pesticide will seep into groundwater, which is one of the typical carcinogens.

Need a radical solution

To reduce environmental pollution from pesticide waste, in recent years, functional agencies and local governments have implemented many solutions such as: Building tanks to collect pesticide packaging. However, the number of tanks is very low. Some places do not meet the required standards such as: No lid; water seeps out when it rains. In addition, tanks are not built according to any standards, leading to many localities building tanks that do not meet the collection and treatment requirements for toxic waste.

In some fields, because there is no tank to collect pesticide packaging, people often throw it right in the field.

According to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 05/2016/TTLT-BNNPTNT-BTNMT dated May 16, 2016 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on guidelines for collecting, transporting and treating pesticide packaging after use, every 3 hectares of land for annual crops or 10 hectares of land for perennial crops using pesticides must have at least 1 tank for collecting packaging. However, in reality, it is difficult to implement in the province. Currently, the whole province has only 735 tanks for storing pesticide packaging; mainly concentrated in Dien Bien district (151 tanks), Muong Cha (226 tanks), Dien Bien Dong (244 tanks)... Some districts such as Nam Po, Muong Cha have not yet invested in construction.

Or Tuan Giao district is one of the districts with a large rice area (in the 2023-2024 winter-spring rice crop, the whole district planted 1,149 hectares, not including upland rice), but the whole district only has one tank to collect pesticide containers. Compared to the regulations, with such an area, there must be nearly 400 tanks to collect pesticides to ensure.

The current number of tanks cannot meet the collection of all pesticide packaging discharged into the environment every year. According to statistics, in 2023, the whole province will process more than 2.8 tons of used pesticide packaging.

Some collection tanks were so full that pesticide bags spilled out.

To strictly control the abuse of pesticides, in September 2023, the Provincial People's Committee issued Document No. 4150/UBND-KTN, on strengthening the management and use of pesticides in the province. Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is required to strengthen propaganda and guidance to the community, people, organizations, and enterprises that produce and use pesticides on the provisions of law on the rights and responsibilities of organizations and individuals using pesticides. Regularly monitor pesticide trading establishments to prevent smuggling, trading, and use of banned pesticides and pesticides not on the list of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam.

At the same time, guide organizations and individuals to use the correct dosage, ensure safety and other legal regulations in the use of pesticides. Strictly control the implementation of procedures for safe and effective use of pesticides in agricultural production. Strengthen inspection, examination and sanction of violations related to the business and use of pesticides.

To reduce environmental pollution from pesticide packaging, the whole society needs to join hands. In particular, it is necessary to promote propaganda and guidance to raise farmers' awareness in using pesticides in accordance with the "4 rights" principle. Allocate funds to build tanks, storage areas and implement contracts for handling pesticide packaging.