Photo 1

The Phase II obsolete pesticide project in Ethiopia has been operational since 2004. The project aims to remove over 1100 tonnes of obsolete stocks.

Photo 2

The project requires the mobilization of personnel and equipment over some of the toughest terrain in Africa. The logistical challenge to the national team to remove the stock from approx. 700 stores scattered over an area equivalent to that of France and Spain combined can not be under estimated. The fleet of project vehicles is an essential component to successful implementation.

Photo 3

Phase II is implemented by a team of national staff that received training from FAO experts and disposal companies during Phase I. The team comprises a group of 12 project technicians, three field managers, a paramedic nurse, nine project drivers, a logistics coordinator and a national project manager.

Photo 4

Following mobilization and safeguarding of stocks the project aims to leave stores in a condition which can be maintained by local staff. Here we see useable stocks remaining in the store following the removal of obsoletes as demonstrated in Photos 1 and 3.

Photo 5

Safeguarded stocks are centralized to one of a series of nine major collection centers. These centers are up graded to meet FAO standards and systems are put in place locally to manage the stocks during storage. This has been supported by a training of trainers for store keepers,

Photo 6

Periodically safeguarded obsolete pesticides are loaded into shipping containers for export and environmentally sound disposal overseas. All in-country transport is completed according to FAO standards as set out in the FAO Environmental Management Tool Kit (EMTK). Transport to the final disposal site is done according to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. All sea transport is completed in accordance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods code (IMDG) as set by the UN International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Photo 7

All disposal of stocks is completed to internationally recognized standards based on EU environmental legislation. The disposal company was selected according to FAO procurement rules following international tender.

So far (July 2007) approx. 880 tonnes of the obsolete stocks have been repacked with over 550 tonnes dispatched for disposal.