The collection and safe disposal of toxic chemicals has become a very important environmental issue for many reasons:

• Removing unused toxic and banned chemicals from households
• Removing unused and banned agricultural and horticultural chemicals from farms.
• Removing unwanted laboratory chemicals and waste products.
• Eliminating the disposal of hazardous chemicals into landfills.
• Preventing accidents to people and the environment by removing these chemicals out of harms way.
  

Tredi disposal plants in France have many years experience in handling, and disposing of these chemicals and undertaking collections for local authorities.

Handling and packaging is very important to ensure that there are no leaks or combinations of incompatible chemicals. Very often the containers are old and deteriorating and must be handled very carefully.

Some pesticides may have flammable solvents as a carrier for the active ingredient and therefore should be packed and segregated properly as a Class 3 Flammable rather than a Class 6 Poison. Chemicals identified as Class 8 corrosives must be handled very carefully and strictly segregated.

Personal Safety and Protection:

As with all hazardous substances, extreme care must be taken when using and handling pesticides.
Always read the Material Safety Data Sheet and the label on the container before handling or using any chemical.
Under no circumstances should any chemical come in contact with the skin, eyes or be inhaled or ingested in any way.  Protective clothing, eyeware and respirators (with the correct cartridge) should always be available for use depending on the risk and situation.
First Aid Treatment for Agrichemical Poisoning:

Don't help the victim if by doing so you also become a victim.

• Shift the victim to a safe place.
• Remove any external chemical or containment clothing from the victim.
• Check that the victim is breathing and loosen clothing to help breathing.  Get urgent medical assistance and keep the victim warm until help arrives.
• Eye contamination can be treated by rinsing with fresh water for at least 15 minutes.
• Contaminated skin can be treated by washing with soap and cold water for at least 15 minutes.
  

Further Safety information can be found in NZS 8409 (Agrichemical users' Code of Practice).

Tredi field services personnel have the expertise and experience to safely handle these problems, and to manage the indentification and disposal of waste agrichemicals.

For more information contact Boyne Drummond