A special initiative to rid Africa of vast stockpiles of poisonous, obsolete chemical pesticides posing serious health risks has been launched by the multi-partnered African Stockpiles Programme (ASP).
The redundant pesticides stored and kept in many African countries contribute to land and water degradation and pose a serious danger to man and beast.
ASP plans to get rid of an estimated 50 000 tons of toxic pesticides and associated waste, as well as tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil that have accumulated over periods as long as 40 years.
”One can compare the pesticides with unexploded ordnance or landmines — they need to be removed urgently,” said Saliem Fakir, director of the World Conservation Union South Africa.
Fakir said there has been a long history of importation of pesticides and chemicals in various industries on the continent, notably in the agriculture and mining sectors.
It is envisaged that the ASP could act as a ”catalyst” for African countries in addressing shortcomings found in developing countries, which lack resources in addressing challenges such as stringent import controls, proper storage and stock management, as well as legislation and enforcement.
Fakir said some of the chemicals find their way into Africa as a result of poor legislation, with no real international agreement governing the conduct of government and multinationals importing the material.
”But, the real motivations have also to do with possible liabilities against governments and companies like we have seen for asbestos — so self-interest has also sparked commitment,” said Fakir.
Total cost of $250-million
According to a New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) document mentioning the ASP, funds used for management and disposal will reduce the public health impacts that ”disproportionately” affect the poor.
”Such dedicated funds — the total cost of the ASP is estimated at $250-million [about R1,6-billion] over 12 to 15 years — would also facilitate the capacity-building that would prevent recurrence of the current stockpiles situation,” reads the Nepad document.
Fakir said the ASP will probably concentrate funding and resources on those African countries that lack the necessary capacity. South Africa is likely to play a leading role in the Southern African Development Community region because it has the necessary technical expertise, strong environmental legislation and existing protocols.
According to Les Hillowitz, CropLife area coordinator for East and Southern Africa, the pesticide industry is especially concerned with the category of organochlorine pesticides.
”The stockpiles include some extremely toxic pesticides. Many of these chemicals and their containers are in poor condition and threaten local and regional environments through the contamination of soil, water and air. The dangers worsen with time as packaging materials deteriorate,” he said.
Hillowitz said pesticides may also have been donated as aid for control of migratory pests such as locusts, and became unstable after exceeding their shelf life when the pest failed to appear for many years.
”Other stocks may become unusable because the use was banned while stocks were held in storage,” he said.
Hillowitz said due to the potential toxicity of pesticides, their production, trade, and use are highly regulated and managed by many industrialised nations.
Storage is major challenge
According to Prof Gerhard Verdoorn, an independent ASP adjudicator, one of the major challenges that need to be addressed relates to the storage of collected chemicals.
”There is no site in Africa which one could trust to dispose of these chemicals and they will have to be exported. There is not a single industrial incinerator that meets United Nations guidelines,” said Verdoorn.
Describing a recent inventory during a clean-up operation near Johannesburg, Verdoorn said ”every single bottle from 50ml to 10-ton containers” needed to be checked, collected and packaged in steel drums according to international standards, before being exported.
He said experts are thin on the ground, but ongoing efforts are being made to ensure that sufficient personnel are trained to help with the clean-up processes in various countries.
Verdoorn said another challenge is getting governments to take a more active role, particularly because they are the main implementing agencies.
”They need to take the bull by the horns. It’s no use cleaning up chemicals while large stocks remain stored in various government departments. They need to participate in the programme,” he said.
Because of the enormity of the problem, a progressive, multiphase programme will be implemented with initial countries expected to carry out the entire programme.
These countries include South Africa, Mali, Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia and Tanzania.
Partial preparatory and prevention programmes are expected to be undertaken by Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Niger, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland and Mozambique, according to the Nepad document. — Sapa