The project aimed to safely remove hazardous pesticide residue waste and heavily contaminated soils from three sites near Besalma and Chirsova. The waste was transferred into certified packaging for subsequent transport to a secure temporary storage facility for final disposal.

Project activities included:

• Preparatory works,
• Surveying the rock environment and groundwater,
• Assessing environmental and health risks of the sites,
• Installing hazardous waste management sites,
• Identifying and inventorying hazardous waste,
• Safely transferring hazardous waste to a secure temporary storage facility,
• Verifying residual environmental and health risks at the individual sites.

Project results:
Approximately 130 tonnes of pesticide residues and soils contaminated with pesticide exceedances were removed from the sites in the cadastres of Besalma and Chirsova municipalities. These were safely packaged and placed in temporary secure storage, resulting in:

• A significant reduction in the migration of contamination into the surrounding rock environment due to pesticide leaching caused by rainfall and wind drift,
• A substantial reduction in negative environmental impacts.

Project partner:
The main partner was the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (ATU Gagauzia). Other stakeholders included the Ministry of Ecology of Moldova, the Environmental Inspectorate, the inhabitants of Besalma and Chirsova municipalities, and the relevant state authorities.