Repackaging of unsuitable pesticides from warehouses in the Vitebsk region into Euro containers will be completed in 2011

August 12, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. Repackaging of unsuitable pesticides from the warehouses of regional agro-service enterprises and agricultural organizations of the Vitebsk region into euro-containers will be completed this year. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.

As of January 1, 2011, there were 495 tons of unsuitable pesticides in warehouses in the Vitebsk region. Their repackaging into euro-containers, which ensures the reliability of substance storage and meets European standards, has been carried out since 2007. During this time, the main volume has been repackaged. The final stage of repackaging the last 100 tons of unsuitable pesticides stored in the warehouses of regional agro-service enterprises and agricultural enterprises of the region began in June as part of the implementation of an international environmental project.

For its implementation, the Global Environment Facility supplied 1.4 thousand units of special packaging containers, personal protective equipment, and conducted training and practical repackaging of part of the pesticides. To date, more than 90 tons have already been repackaged into euro-containers in Tolochin, Miory, Postavy, Sharkovshchina, Verkhnedvinsk, Rossony, Liozno and other districts of the region. It is planned to complete this work completely by the end of this year.

Br150 million has been allocated from the regional nature protection fund this year for the implementation of measures for repackaging unsuitable pesticides.

In addition, there are three underground burial sites for unsuitable pesticides in the region: Postavy (99 tons), Verkhnedvinsk (454.5 tons), and Gorodok (411.4 tons). Priority measures to enhance their safety have been implemented at each of these three sites: the burial sites are fenced and embanked, warning signs have been installed, and observation wells have been equipped. Furthermore, in 2010-2011, with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility, additional measures were carried out at the Verkhnedvinsk burial site. Here, the entire surface of the storage facility was protected from surface water with two layers of polyethylene film, the surface was covered with a layer of sand up to 0.7 m high, embankments were constructed along the entire perimeter, and fences and a warning sign were installed. $44 thousand from the Global Environment Facility funds, Br70 million from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, and about Br30 million from OJSC "Verkhnedvinsky Rayagrosservice" were allocated for the project implementation.-0-