Mahmood Patel, EnviroServ’s National Laboratory Manager, talks about the management of pesticide waste, and the safe and legal disposal of substances used to kill, repel or control forms of plant or animal life considered to be pests.
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EnviroServ Waste Management provides compliant solutions to waste generators for the responsible management of expired chemical and pesticide waste.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations defines obsolete pesticides as ‘all pesticide products not in current use because they have been banned, deteriorated or are damaged, passed their expiration date, cannot be used for any other reason or are not wanted by the current owner’.
In 2013, three sets of waste management regulations were promulgated under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act No. 59 of 2008. One of these, the National Norms and Standards for Disposal of Waste to Landfill (GNR.636), contains various prohibitions regarding the types of waste that may be disposed of to landfill. The Norms and Standards prohibit the disposal of various types of waste within specified times. In 2017, the prohibition banning the disposal of ‘other pesticide waste’ came into force.
“In terms of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act 59 of 2008, a person commits an offence if that person contravenes or fails to comply with a norm or standard established in terms of this Act,” says Mahmood Patel, EnviroServ’s National Laboratory Manager. A person convicted of an offence is liable to a fine or to imprisonment in terms of the National Environmental Management Waste Act.
“Chemicals need to be managed according to their individual hazard and risk. EnviroServ has a SANAS accredited laboratory for waste classification and assessment of waste for disposal to landfill. Illegal dumping and disposal of empty chemical and pesticide containers can have environmental impacts by polluting our country’s waters – including ground water, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, etc – damaging our soil quality, affecting our air quality from open burning activities, and negatively affecting wildlife.
“Speak to a trusted waste management company, which can advise on alternative solutions to landfill for pesticide waste,” Patel advises.
South Africa’s largest waste management company, EnviroServ has been operating since 1979 and is headquartered in Gauteng with depots around the country and regional branches in Mozambique and Uganda.
“We are a BBBEE Level 1 company that offers cost-effective solutions to complex hazardous and non-hazardous waste and chemical pollution problems, providing peace of mind around legal compliance, safe handling, transportation, and treatment. Our services include waste recycling and on-site management, minimising waste to landfill, technical waste management supply, contaminated land and legacy stockpile management, hazardous waste services, waste collection, treatment and disposal services and landfill management.
“We were first to market with many waste management solutions, some of which are still recognised as best practice,” he continues.
“After more than four decades in business, we remain pioneers because the drive to look for better ways of doing things is deeply embedded in our culture. We were established by forward thinkers with a social conscience – the kinds of people we still employ today,” he adds.
In addition, by being the first – and for long periods – the only company to tackle complex waste management issues in South Africa, EnviroServ has come to understand that sustainable waste management evolves with society’s needs, habits and awareness of health and environmental prosperity. “We have had to keep evolving to deal with new lifestyles and technologies leading to new and increased waste streams, as well as updated legislation.
“We are dedicated to delivering innovative waste solutions that are environmentally responsible, effective and economically viable so our customers can enhance sustainability and achieve environmental peace of mind,” Mahmood Patel concludes.
