Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: Obsolete pesticides that have been stored for decades are causing health and environmental concerns. The government is finding the most efficient alternative to manage these toxic wastes.

     Meeting information requirements: Consultants have come up with a number of options for Pakistan to get rid of these pesticides. Pakistan needs to decide which alternative is most soundness and cost efficient. To assist in decision-making, pilot projects, scoping process and feasibility studies are being carried out.

Background in summary:

     Obsolete pesticides in Pakistan: Pakistan holds a large stock of obsolete pesticides. The stocks comprise a large range of formulated pesticide types predominantly organophosphate and organochlorine insecticides. The main hazard associated with the pesticides is their acute toxicity, with some of the product active ingredients falling within the highest category.

     The stock of pesticides are leaking into the environment: The stocks, having been held for around two decades or more, are now in a dilapidated condition, with considerable leakage, and pilferage. There is apparently some evidence of contaminated wells. There have been complaints and expressions of concern from some communities.

     Stocks are not increasing but the remaining need to be destroyed: Fortunately, after pesticide purchase moved to the private sector in 1980, there has been little subsequent accumulation of pesticide stock sand hence further stock accumulation is not seen as a problem for the future. The problem can, therefore, be restricted to how to collect and dispose of the existing obsolete stocks in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

     Initiatives to manage and dispose these pesticides: There have been several significant past initiatives to deal with the problem but none were acceptably successful. Eventually in 1996, the unsuccessful results brought the Royal Netherlands Embassy (RNE), Islamabad to interest. Also, some of the stocks may have originated from the Netherlands and hence they must be called to assist in the disposal of the pesticide stocks.

     Disposal alternatives: Against this background the RNE commissioned a full-scale study with the following findings that there are several final disposal options (all involving high temperature incineration), which are:

• Off-shore incineration in Europe
  
  
• Off-shore incineration in India
  
  
• Incineration in local cement kilns
  
  
• Installing a local rotary kiln incinerator in Pakistan

     Finding the most acceptable alternative: On the basis of above, a Scoping Inventory, a Pilot project and a feasibility study will be carried out in order to evaluate and compare the 4 alternatives in terms of safety, efficiency and cost. The latest proposal prima facia supported by the donor has yet to achieve full national consensus on the soundness of the approach and its technical efficiency on which consultation must commence immediately for their widest acceptance and support.

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
1	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	1	Cost efficient.
1	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		-	Participation of the community
2	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	-	Participation of resource owners/users
2	Socio-cultural adaptability.	2	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	2	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
2	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
2	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	2	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:       There are other alternatives, apart from pesticides, for pest management and control, such as a non-chemical method called Biological control. When deciding which pest control alternative to undergo, a Pesticide Impact Assessment should be conducted to find out the best attainable method, but the paramount objective should be to select the alternative with the least harmful effect on human health and environmental conditions. Sustainability of the project:   Adaptability of the project to other situations:       Process of decision making and implementation:   Cost efficiency: