Identification of hazards posed by the site
The National Inspection for Environmental Protection, one of the NEP executive agencies in Poland, carried out a site audit and social interviews in 1994 at the Zabrze's pesticide landfill in order to asses any risks arising from the landfill`s existence. The quantity of the collected wastes was estimated at 1 Mg (tonnes) and various expired pesticides and their packaging were noted. In 1997 the area was rented to a private farmer for a period of 1 year.
In November 1998 the Voivodiship Inspection for Environmental Protection commissioned soil analyses in the vicinity of the Zabrze landfill. A contractor was chosen on the basis of Polish Law on Public Contracts. Selection was made as a result of competitive bidding because of public financing regulations. Final test results indicated that the landfill had started to leak and that the area should be secured or remediated.
The Polish Institute of Environmental Protection and UNIDO concluded a contract to prepare the Stockholm Convention (POPs) National Implementation Plan in 2002, and in 2003 Zabrze commune became the owner of the area on which the pesticide landfill was located. In May 2003 on the order of the Ministry of the Environment, the National Institute of Geology carried out a study “Inventory-taking and testing of impact of expired plant protection substances in the area of the Silesian Voivoidship”. One of the 11 sites of this type was the pesticide landfill in Zabrze. It was also noticed that the technical condition of this facility had deteriorated considerably when compared to its condition documented in 1998, the slab closing the hatch was missing, and the structure of the facility itself was damaged (partial destruction of one of the walls, lack of protection against trespassing, lack of warning signs).
It was also noticed that the facility has become a “wild” waste dump for households. Based on the volume of the facility it was estimated that it contained ca. 6 Mg (tonnes) of mixed pesticide wastes, packaging materials and co-disposed municipal wastes. Soil analyses were carried out which confirmed the presence of the organochlorines in the surrounding area of the facility proving that the landfill was unsecured and was leaking.
