Pesticide wastes in crops from the zona bananera municipality, department of Magdalena, Colombia

Abstract

Banana production is related to the generation of hazardous wastes that can cause potential contamination to the water, the soil and the workers’ health. The objective of the present work was to identify the main pesticide wastes associated to export banana production activities from the Zona Bananera municipality, Department of Magdalena, Colombia. The methodology consisted of systematic observation, primary data collection and data analysis of 46 banana farms, two waste collection centers, and a hazardous waste manager. In this way, the hazardous wastes generated in the four stages of banana crop was categorized in sowing, crop management, harvesting and postharvest. In the banana crop management, weed control, mooring, tagging and phytosanitary management were the activities with greater generation of hazardous wastes, among which empty containers of agrochemicals, bags with additive chlorpyrifos/biphentrine, and other hazardous waste such as personal protective elements and preparation and use of biocides. It is concluded that the identification of hazardous wastes contributes to the development and implementation of the Hazardous Waste Management Plan in the Zona Bananera municipality, Department of Magdalena, Colombia.