The township committee has taken steps to be the first in Salem County, Pa., to accept a policy that declares one of its parks as a Pesticide Free Zone. Deer Pen Park will be pesticide free.
The committee adopted the resolution at an Oct. 28 meeting. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) policy identifies key sensitive areas like the park to be managed without chemical pesticides.
Integrated Pest Management calls for the management of insects, undesired plants and plant diseases with methods that are least likely to impact human health or the environment.
"We are excited about this because we are the first in the county to take part," said Mayor Peter Voros. "We hope that others follow because this is a great project."
The policy was first brought to the attention of the committee by township volunteers Robert Morse and Nicki Quattrone. They presented information on the benefits of reducing pesticides at a committee meeting in July. Through their work and suggestions of the Pittsgrove Environmental Commission, the policy was adopted.
"Pittsgrove now has a written Integrated Pest Management policy which means that least toxic methods are used, only when needed," said Committeewoman Linda DuBois.
Jane Nogaki, program coordinator for the New Jersey Environmental Federation, said that the state uses about four million pounds of pesticides annually for lawn care, mosquito control, agricultural production and golf course maintenance.
Pesticides used to kill weeds and insects can also threaten the health of children by increasing the risk of cancer, learning disabilities, asthma, birth defects, kidney disease and other ailments, Nogaki said. She added that these chemicals can also poison animals, pollute local streams and rivers and seep through the ground into underground aquifers.
"We especially want to protect children because they are closer to pesticide applications on the ground and they are still developing and absorb more pesticides than adults," said Nogaki.
Alternatives do exists that are cost effective and friendly to the environment - simple things like hand pulling weeds, mulching areas properly to prevent weeds, planting native plants that don't get insect problems, and reducing or eliminating lawns to cut down on the need for watering, fertilizing and mowing.
Committeeman Jeff Ridgway added that the policy also "protects ground water and the aquatic life in the stream that runs through the park."
Township public works staff Harry Snyder and Ed Myers Jr. attended an NJDEP-sponsored training about Integrated Pest Management earlier this month, as did school principals from the district. Under a state law passed in 2002, all schools public and private from K-12th grade are mandated to have an IPM plan and use low-impact methods of pest control as the first option.
"We need residents to do their part in reducing pesticides in our environment and keeping our air, water and land safe from toxic chemicals," said Nogaki. "Residents can participate by making their own property a Pesticide Free Zone."
Pittsgrove Township joins 21 other communities which have designated Pesticide Free Zones in parks including Asbury Park, Ocean City, Dennis Township, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Neptune, Red Bank, Pine Beach and Wall townships.