Several have obsolete stocks in excess of 5,000 tonnes. The total of obsolete pesticides in non-OECD countries is expected to be far in excess of 100,000 tonnes. There are in addition large quantities of heavily contaminated floor material, soil and empty containers that should also be regarded as toxic waste. A significant part of the stocks, especially in Africa, are left-overs of pesticides obtained under aid agreements. Excessive donations, ones that arrived too late, and gifts of inappropriate products have all made an important contribution to the problem.
Urgent action is needed.
First, governments should secure their present obsolete stocks to reduce hazards to health and the environment. This would involve repackaging pesticides in leaking or severely deteriorated containers and arranging for proper and controlled storage. Second, measures need to be taken to protect pesticides from deterioration, initially through better planning of requirements and management of stocks. Developing countries do not have the disposal facilities, know-how, or financial resources to tackle this alarming problem. Disposal is neither cheap nor simple.