A total of 256 tonnes of farm hazardous waste was collected during a recent campaign, with over 3,000 farmers travelling to pre arranged bring centres.
Organisers of the campaign the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) teamed up with Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and local authorities to facilitate the collection, recovery and disposal of hazardous waste from farms.
The EPA says farm hazardous waste has the potential to cause harm to farmers, livestock and the environment due to the nature of their properties such as being toxic, irritant, flammable and ecotoxic.
According to the EPA the average weight of farm hazardous waste per farmer was 92kg and the average number of farmers per site was 180.
The busiest centre was Enniscorthy in Co.Wexford with 360 farmers, while Ballymote was used by 79 farmers.
The breakdown of the 256 tonnes of hazardous waste presented by the farmers on a weight basis at the bring centres were:
- 168 tonnes of waste engine and hydraulic oil;
- 87 tonnes of farm hazardous wastes which included:
- 31 tonnes of pesticides ( includes herbicides, fungicides, insecticides);
- 16 tonnes of veterinary medicines wastes (vaccines, antibiotics, needles, doses, sheep dips etc.);
- 18 tonnes waste paints (mix of water and solvent bases paints);
- 10 tonnes of oil and air filters;
- 5 tonnes of corrosives; and
- 1.6 tonnes of biocides
The remaining 5 tonnes includes wastes such as aerosols, adhesives, antifreeze, creosote, brake fluids.
The EPA says the farm hazardous waste campaign has proved that there are substantial quantities of farm hazardous waste present on farms (both legacy and current) which poses a potential risk to farmers, their livestock and the environment.
However, the EPA says it also clearly demonstrates that farmers want to manage these wastes in an appropriate manner and demonstrated this by participating in such large numbers and contributing financially to the safe recovery and disposal of these wastes.