1. African Stockpiles – Agricultural Waste Dr Mandla Buthelezi National African Farmers Union Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Environment and Tourism,

2. 21 November 20072 Who am I? National Vice President of the National African Farmers Union of South Africa. President of NAFU – KZN. PhD in Literature and Community Development. Working in the farming fraternity since birth.

3. 21 November 20073

4. 4 Some issues today! What are the problems on the ground? Need special mention of agricultural chemicals / waste in the Waste Management Bill. Need to ensure that incineration is not the process to deal with the ASP waste both past and future waste. Return to sender or producer.

5. 21 November 20075 What are the problems on the ground? Farmers are sitting with stockpiles on their properties and in their houses. Affecting rural communities for the containers are used for water containers. Waste and containers are dumped often illegally – Mooi River, KZN, 2007. Lack of awareness and education on the dangers of the pesticides. Soil and water contamination. Good research by Dr Mohamed Aqiel Dalvie and Dr Leslie London (1995 and 2003)

6. 21 November 20076 Disposal Safeguarding –Centralisation –Repackaging Disposal –Overseas shipment (Basel etc) –Final destruction in Europe –Issue of incineration vs non- incineration

7. 21 November 20077 Figure 1: Pesticide storage Pesticides in direct contact with the floor and pesticide spills are visible.

8. 21 November 20078 Figure 2: Pesticide storage Pesticides stored outside and easy access is allowed (bad storage)

9. 21 November 20079 Figure 3: Pesticide storage Good enclosed pesticide storage room with locked secured door. However there are empty containers outside

10. 21 November 200710 Figure 4: Pesticide storage Condition of pesticide holders are damaged, rusted and unclosed.

11. 21 November 200711 Results of 2003 Stellenbosch study 8% of farms with unwanted pesticides in 1995 still had these pesticides on site. 69% of these farms with unwanted pesticides in 1995 had accumulated further stocks of obsolete pesticides since 1995, despite the retrieval project. 75% of farms that had no obsolete pesticides in 1995 reported obsolete pesticides in 2003 50% of farms which were not participants in 1995 reported obsolete pesticides in 2003. In total, the quantity of obsolete pesticides had grown from 6.4 tonnes to 9.7 tonnes.

12. 21 November 200712 Safety and hygiene of the pesticide stores surveyed, Stellenbosch, 2003 Number of farms stores surveyed = 68. Store unlocked = 4%. Broken window = 1%. Contaminated floor = 67%. Pesticides packed disorderly = 40%. Unwanted pesticides mixed with those used = 24%.

13. 21 November 200713 South African Pesticide Network As early as 2005 the ASP has specifically rejected the possibility of constructing disposal facilities within Africa and has also committed to actively encouraging alternatives to incineration. BUT – there is an ongoing push to use cement kilns to burn ASP. The African (including South Africa) cement industry does not have appropriate proven expertise to ensure: –effective and appropriate storage, handling and processing of obsolete stockpiles or hazardous waste in order to conform to best international standards, and –ensure the safety of its workforce, the environment and public health is protected in handling hazardous waste.

14. 21 November 200714 South African Pesticide Network Stockpiles should be shipped back to the country from which they were donated and disposed of there. Concern that the DEAT using consultants that are pushing the burning of waste in cement kilns, such Kare Karstensen who has worked with the World Business Council on Sustainable Development in their push burn waste in cement kilns. No to incineration of ASP waste in cement kilns. Agricultural chemical / waste must be mentioned specifically in the Waste Management Bill