A New Batch of Pesticides Evacuated from the Republic of Moldova

CHISINAU, June 22, 2018 — Over 80 tons of pesticides stored on the territory of Ungheni district were evacuated today in order to be destroyed in Poland.

On this occasion, a ceremony was organized at the regional central warehouse from Zagarancea village, where almost 86 tons of pesticide waste were collected from 13 villages of Ungheni district. The ceremony was attended by ambassadors, representatives of the Ministry of Defense, and local public authorities.

During the event, State Secretary Vladimir Iliev mentioned that ensuring the fundamental human rights of living in a clean environment without pesticide waste, alongside food security, demographic security, ecological and economical security, have become national priorities during the past years, and the Ministry of Defense has been actively involved in reaching these objectives.

“In 2003-2008, the National Army repacked over 3,200 tons of pesticide waste from 424 sites and then stored them in 37 regional central warehouses. Since 2014 and so far, we have evacuated to Poland and destroyed at SARPI Dabrowa Gornicza incinerator 1,238 tons of pesticides from Anenii Noi, Ialoveni, Basarabeasca, Donduseni, Leova, Soroca, Taraclia, Cahul, Calarasi, Glodeni, Falesti, Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, Singerei, Drochia, Edinet districts and Balti city”, said State Secretary Iliev.

Vladimir Iliev thanked the Governments of Romania, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Turkey, Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Czech Republic, Norway, Lithuania, Estonia şi Japan — donating countries that financially contributed to the implementation of the NATO/PfP Trust Fund Project on the disposal of dangerous pesticides and chemicals in the Republic of Moldova.

According to Col. Mariana Grama, manager of the NATO/PfP Trust Fund Project on the disposal of dangerous pesticides and chemicals in the Republic of Moldova, the 86 tons of pesticides stored in the warehouse in Zagarancea were collected from Alexeevca, Boghenii Noi, Cetireni, Costuleni, Hircesti, Manoilesti, Negurenii Vechi, Petresti, Pirlita, Todiresti, Untesti, Ungheni, Valea Mare villages in 2007.

The source mentioned that, within June 4-22, 2018, the pesticides were prepared for evacuation through repacking, palletizing, marking, fixing, weighing by a team consisting of six service members from “Stefan cel Mare” Brigade who were assisted by representatives of E.S. Field Services Veolia Company from Great Britain and with the support of Local Public Administration from Ungheni.

Col. Grama added that the pesticides were transported to Poland in order to be thermally destroyed at SARPI Dabrowa Gornicza incinerator.