13
May
NJ Community Adopts Indoor IPM, Parks Go Pesticide-Free
(Beyond Pesticides, May 13, 2008) Citing concerns over the impact of pesticides on health and the environment, the Voorhees, NJ Township Committee approved Resolution 126-08, Township of Voorhees Pesticide Reduction Policy, on April 28, 2008 to stop hazardous pesticide use. The New Jersey Township has adopted Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the pest control policy and strategy to be used in the maintenance of the township’s public properties and buildings, and township parks are pesticide free posted with “Pesticide Free Zone” ladybug signs.The National Center for Environmental Health Strategies, which proposed the resolution, will be working with the township’s pest control contractor on an IPM plan for township buildings to continue to eliminate or significantly reduce the use of hazardous pesticides. The guidance will in part be based on the New Jersey School IPM Law (S. 137, adopted September 26, 2002), which requires that after non-chemical means of pest control have been considered and exhausted and conventional pesticide use is deemed necessary, preference be given to using a pesticide that is classified “low impact.”
Low impact pesticides according to the New Jersey School IPM Law include a first category of pesticides or substances that are U.S. EPA exempt from regulation and a second category of pesticide ingredients or formulation types that are considered lesser risk because of the nature of the product formulation (gel, paste, or bait), the ingredient (boric acid, silica gel, or diatomaceous earth), or how the pesticide is used (boric acid in a wall cavity as opposed to boric acid clumped along a baseboard or on a heating element).
New Jersey Pesticide Control Regulations require posting and notification in the event of the use of conventional pesticides. Those at risk of harm from pesticides can request advance notification including the date and time of application; the brand name and EPA registration number of the pesticide(s) which will be applied; the common chemical name(s) of the active ingredient(s) of the pesticide(s) applied; the location or address of the application; and the name and telephone number of a contact person to call to receive further information. (N.J.AC. 7:30-9.15)
This policy follows an April 2008 policy passed by Town officials in Camden, ME, which eliminates toxic pesticides from being applied to municipal parks and fields. Read about the policy, which was spearheaded by Citizens for a Green Camden, in Beyond Pesticides May 12, 2008 Daily News Blog posting.
For more information on organic turf management, please visit our Lawns and Landscapes program page. For more information school IPM, please visit our Children and Schools program page. To find a service provider that practices least- or non-toxic methods, visit the Safety Source for Pest Management.
