The amount of pesticide waste endangering people and the environment is five times greater than what had been thought only two years ago, according to a new report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The FAO says that nearly 500,000 tons of old and unused pesticides have been left on sites that are mostly in the developing world. Many of the pesticides have been abandoned on fields and in villages, poisoning soil and water supplies. The FAO’s Alemayehu Wodageneh said, “The lethal legacy of obsolete pesticides is alarming and urgent action is needed to clean up waste dumps.” The FAO is urging pesticide companies to get on the ball and help with clean-up efforts.
