Steinbach considers pesticide ban options

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/05/2014 (4054 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This summer is the last time chemical pesticides will be used cosmetically on most grass in Manitoba. Steinbach Parks and Recreation department head Russ Dyck said the city is considering its options as it waits for the new provincial law to be presented with all of its details.

The details that were announced include a ban on using all cosmetic weed and pest control chemicals on home lawns and public fields or grassed areas including school fields, playgrounds, and parks. Farms, gardens, and golf courses are among those that are exempt from the ban.

It has been reported Brandon has had a similar ban in place for several years. Brandon’s director of communications Allison Collins explined Brandon’s ban is different in that a resident must apply for a buffer zone from pesticide use for medical purposes. Other provinces also have laws banning cosmetic pesticide use.

Dyck said the information Steinbach had gathered so far shows chemical-free pesticides will be more expensive and not as effective. When it is clear what will still be allowed, Dyck said the city will test different products on plots of lands to test their effectiveness.

For more on this story read Thursday’s paper or order the issue online.