Context of the residential area and environmental liabilities
An old domestic and industrial waste disposal site from the 1970s, located in the South of Brazil, later became an irregular residential occupation. Over time, this revealed the presence of hazardous pesticide residues buried beneath the homes. Any contact with these residues could naturally pose health risks to the residents.
One of the main challenges identified in this case was to operationalize the relocation of residents living on and around the contaminated area, in addition to the subsequent delineation of the contaminated area and the safe removal of waste, without posing health risks to the local community.
Strategy
NewFields Brasil facilitated the implementation of the following actions in partnership with the client, municipal, and state agencies:
- Establishment of a communication and engagement strategy with various stakeholders, including the local community;
- Safe relocation of 50 families to a new area;
- Precise delineation of the area containing hazardous pesticide residues with minimal disturbance to the area and nearby community;
- Meticulous excavation and waste removal technique that allowed for the intact recovery of pesticide residues and prevented the spread of contamination in soil and groundwater;
- Full-time environmental monitoring during investigation and remediation activities, aiming to ensure safety for the local community and workers involved in the area's recovery activities.
Results
- Successful community engagement, with no complaints from the community regarding the remediation activities carried out in the area;
- Successful removal of over 800 bottles still containing liquid pesticides;
- Completion of remediation and full approval of the work by the environmental agency, which even considered it the state's leading case study on the subject;
- Soil and groundwater free of contamination, and the area completely rehabilitated.
To learn more about NewFields Brasil's services regarding contaminated site remediation, contact our team.
