Ecologists doubt legitimacy of destroying pesticides on Georgian territory

In 2011, the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources plans to destroy more than 500 tons of pesticides. The toxic chemicals are going to be exterminated in cement kilns. However, ecologists doubt the legitimacy of such actions because the project and the expert opinions have not been made public.

"The ministry is currently developing the project of destroying pesticides, and next year it is going to be implemented", said Albert Chanksemashvili, head of department of chemicals and wastes of the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, all pesticides with expired shelf life and unusable are buried in Eastern Georgia at the Yagludzha landfill located along Rustavi highway at the foot of the mountain Yagludzha. All in all, from 500 to 600 tons of pesticides are buried there.

The Georgian Green party notes that they have no information if the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has a license for burying toxic chemicals.

"Prior to burying pesticides at Yagludzha, the ministry was to make public the project and the expert opinions, but this has not been done. The fact that the bury is not deep, the density and integrity of the polyethylene used for packing the toxic chemicals is of special importance", said  Malkhaz Nonikashviki, the NGO representative, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to Nonikashviki, the NGO is planning to file an appropriate request at the Georgian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.