Environmental Sound Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides and other Crop Products, Bulgaria

About the project

Through its enlargement contribution, Switzerland is helping to reduce the economic and social disparities within the EU and is thus contributing autonomously to the costs of EU enlargement in the spirit of solidarity. Within the compass of this, Switzerland provided 76 million Swiss francs to Bulgaria over the period 2009-2019 for projects in several areas, including environmental protection.

The project “Environmental Sound Disposal of Obsolete Pesticides and other Crop Protection Products” included the following activities:

• Repackaging of obsolete pesticides
• Transportation of obsolete pesticides
• Final disposal of obsolete pesticides; and
• Cleaning and restoration of warehouses

TAUW supported and supervised the entire process from initial inventory of hazardous waste to the restoration of the warehouses, including, but not limited to, the following activities:

• Review of available tender documentation for the repackaging, transport and disposal of over 3,500 tons of pesticides, crop protection products and other hazardous wastes
• Outlining the supervision of the works by the Bulgarian counterparts
• Training of over 30 supervisors for supervision of the repackaging and transport of the hazardous wastes
• Assessment of the status of cleaning in warehouses that previously held hazardous wastes
• Site assessment of warehouses, including handheld XRF measurements and mercury analysis
• Drafting of instructions and guidelines and provision of guidance to the project supervisors, Bulgarian authorities and contractors on technical issues related to the hazardous wastes found.
• Supplying technical quality control in the form of day-to-day supervision control and training

How did the cooperation with the client go? 

SECO had contracted TAUW bv, through its overall technical support partner Neosys AG, to provide support to SECO itself, as well to the Bulgarian authorities implementing this project. The project was successfully completed within the agreed budgets and within the agreed time frame.

The results

During the operation more than 3,500 tons of hazardous waste was repacked and shipped to appropriate facilities for destruction across the EU. These hazardous wastes included:

• POP pesticides
• Mercury-containing pesticides
• Other crop protection products
• Other hazardous wastes including flammables and gasses
  
  

TAUW ensured that process was always completed in a safe, environmentally sound manner. Aside from the successful destruction of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and obsolete pesticides, TAUW shared knowledge on the environmentally sound management of hazardous waste for over 30 supervisors, Bulgarian authorities, and contractors.