In Khatlon Region, work has been completed on the full cleanup of the Jovidon-4 site in Jami District, which for decades remained one of the most problematic locations associated with historical contamination from obsolete pesticides.
The work was carried out by the State Institution “National Center for the Implementation of Obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs” of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, in cooperation with the project implementation partner of Project 9421 “Demonstration of Non-Thermal Treatment of DDT Waste in Central Asia” - the public organization “Peshsaf.” The project is funded by UNEP/GEF. The active phase of the cleanup began in December 2025 and included a detailed study of the area, sampling, and the subsequent removal of contaminated materials.
Historically, the site, covering up to one hectare, was used for storing agricultural chemicals and fuel and lubricants, and was located in close proximity to a former machine-tractor station. After the 1990s, the warehouses were destroyed, the land was privatized, and part of the area was developed for residential purposes, which significantly complicated subsequent cleanup efforts.
Thanks to the efforts of the Committee for Environmental Protection, a construction ban was introduced at the site in 2017 until the contamination was completely eliminated. Specialists were particularly concerned about the site’s proximity to a fish-farming pond, which created additional environmental risks.
In early March of this year, the cleanup work was successfully completed. According to specialists’ estimates, about 770 tons of pesticide-contaminated soil and construction waste were removed from the site, including remnants of the destroyed storage facilities. In addition, 1,449 kg of obsolete pesticides posing a potential threat to public health and the environment were collected and removed. All waste has been transported for temporary storage to the Vakhsh hazardous waste landfill.
The completion of the cleanup at the Jovidon-4 site marks an important step toward ensuring environmental safety in Khatlon Region and reducing risks associated with the historical legacy of hazardous chemical use.
