The Municipality of Chivilcoy responded immediately through the Department of Food Quality, Zoonosis, and Environment to the report of empty chemical drums at the intersection of Saavedra and 10th Street, activating the environmental safety protocol.
Personnel from the Environmental Department, along with the Government Secretariat, arrived at the location with the necessary technical precautions to assess the situation and secure the containers.
Chemical risk: the drums contained residues of pool products
During the inspection, it was confirmed that the containers did not contain agrochemicals, but rather residues of chemical substances used in pool maintenance. This implies a potential risk as they were left exposed in the public road. Therefore, the drums were removed for safe management.
Call for citizen responsibility
The Municipality requests not to abandon hazardous containers and to coordinate their removal with the Environmental Department.
The importance of avoiding the abandonment of containers with chemical residues in public spaces was reiterated by the Municipality.
In case of needing to dispose of such items, it is recommended to contact the Environmental Department of CAZMA to coordinate their safe and responsible removal.
Empty phytosanitary containers: a national issue
Each agricultural campaign generates more than 20 million containers, many without proper treatment.
The process of intensification and technological advancement in agriculture in recent decades has increased the use of phytosanitary products, generating approximately:
- 20 million empty containers per year
- 17,000 tons of plastic in circulation
A large portion of these containers does not receive proper treatment, remaining scattered in fields or being illegally commercialized, posing serious risks of direct and indirect contamination to the environment, human health, and animal health.
Law 27.279: legal framework for the safe management of phytosanitary containers
The regulation establishes minimum requirements to protect health and the environment.
Law 27.279 regulates the management of empty phytosanitary product containers throughout the national territory. Its goal is to ensure that the treatment of these residues:
- Does not pose risks to human or animal health
- Protects the environment from chemical pollution
- Promotes safe and traceable practices in container handling
What can we do as citizens?
Prevention begins with individual and community commitment:
- Report hazardous containers findings to the Environmental Department
- Do not abandon or reuse drums with chemical residues
- Promote environmental education on hazardous waste management
- Comply with current regulations and support their local implementation
Cover photo: La Razón de Chivilcoy
