Massive response to waste pilot project

THERE was a massive response this week to the pilot project for the collection of hazardous farm waste in Ballinasloe with over 11 tonnes of material deposited.

Over 160 farmers made use of the Teagasc organised ‘bring centre’ at Ballinasloe Mart with a wide range of product brought in for safe disposal, including oils, pesticides, veterinary products, paints and electrical equipment.

Now the aim of Teagasc is that such a controlled and supervised collection arrangement for the disposal of such materials can be established on an annual basis, affording farmers the opportunity to ‘keep a clean shed’ all year round.

Teagasc Environmental Specialist and Co-ordinator of the series of ‘bring centres’ around the country, Mark Gibson, said that this week’s collection in Ballinasloe had been a tremendous success.

“We were probably at the point where we just couldn’t take much more but once farmers were given the opportunity to properly dispose of such materials, they availed of it.

“We believe that the success of this pilot project will help us to secure the funding for the establishment of a more regular service to be put in place.

“Farmers, for example, are very much into the routine of disposing of their waste plastic at the end of each season – what would be ideal is that in tandem with this, a service for the ‘take in’ of hazardous waste, would also be provided on an annual basis,” said Mark Gibson.

Last Monday at Ballinasloe Mart, waste oils provided the biggest chunk of the waste materials but there was also a significant amount of pesticides ‘left in’ as well.

A large amount of waste electrical materials were also deposited at the centre with back-up transportation having to be called in by the organisers to remove it.

With a number of chemical products being ‘delisted or deregistered’ over the past year or so, farmers have been advised by Teagasc, that they only have an 18 month window for the use of such products from the delisting date.

Mark Gibson also advised farmers that over the coming years, the correct storage and disposal of pesticides, chemicals and veterinary products would be an important part of cross compliance requirements

“However, what last Monday clearly showed is that farmers are more than willing to ensure that any waste products they have on their farms should be disposed of in a proper manner,” said Mark Gibson.