TORONTO – Toronto’s controversial pesticide ban went into effect Thursday, with an education campaign. The ban will be introduced gradually and it won’t be enforced until September 2005.
Torontonians are being asked to turn off the nozzle on chemical herbicides and insecticides and use organic methods.
“You can have a green and clean front lawn without using chemical pesticides,” said Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul’s), the former chair of the Toronto board of health, who ushered the bylaw through a feisty debate last spring. “This is the first step in getting people off the chemical pesticide fix and on to more wholesome ways of caring for their gardens.”
The ban will be introduced gradually, starting with an education campaign; it won’t be enforced until September 2005. Residents will be able to use chemical pesticides to control a health hazard – like a swarm of wasps or mosquitoes – and to combat a “substantial infestation” on their property.
Next month, councillors will determine what, exactly, constitutes a “substantial infestation.”
City staff have recommended that weeds, no matter how thick, do not constitute a “substantial infestation,” while bugs swarming a lawn would be included.
They also have suggested golf courses, bowling greens and parts of cemeteries be exempt from the bylaw, Mihevc said.
“This discriminates against homeowners,” said Lorraine Van Haastrecht, representing a group of lawn care companies that has long opposed the pesticide bylaw.
As an example of how the bylaw is “extreme” and “unreasonable,” Van Haastrecht slapped “banned” signs on a group of products lined up in front of her at a news conference recently, including Weed ‘N Feed, outdoor Raid and mosquito coils.
“Saying you can never light a mosquito coil, never kill bugs, never stop dandelions, and never spray wasps and hornets is too extreme,” she said, urging residents to call their councillors to complain.
Health board chair John Filion said mosquito coils and other bug sprays are not included in the ban.
“That’s a ludicrous exaggeration of what we’re trying to do. We’re not going around to catch people using Raid. We’re asking for public co-operation in reducing the use of cosmetic pesticide,” Filion said (Ward 23, Willowdale).
The bylaw permits certain pest-control products, including horticultural oils and soaps.
As part of its educational campaign, the health board has published pamphlets and a resource guide on reducing pesticides and organic lawn care.
After two days of debate, council passed the pesticide bylaw last May by a 26-12 margin.
Source: The Star