Maplewood could ban non-organic cosmetic lawn chemicals

See http://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/documents2/municipal%20ordinances/Ogunquit_Ordinance_1-1-15.pdf for an example of an ordinance passed by a town in Maine which bans the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides. At least five provinces in Canada have enacted similar bans. New Jersey allows the passing of such an ordinance by petitioning the State. It can be done! And Maplewood could be one of the first in NJ to do it. Such an ordinance has been shown to reduce pesticide residues in waterways and make environment a safer place for kids. The East Branch of the Rahway River runs through the middle of Maplewood and is a drinking water source for thousands of people. What do you think? Can Maplewood do it? 


Here is some more information and examples. ; 

http://envirolaw.com/pesticide-ban-work/  ; 

 http://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2015/10/08/montgomery-lawn-pesticide-ban-passes-draws-wide-attention/%C2%A0 ; 

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/projects/go-pesticide-free/ ;

http://envirolaw.com/pesticide-ban-work/


simply not enforceable.  Thousands of individuals buying and applying. Hundreds, if not more, contractors. 

To me education, public seminars, perhaps finAncial incentives are a good next step.   

To be blunt, how many people think about this?  That's the place to start. 


peteglider said:

simply not enforceable.  Thousands of individuals buying and applying. Hundreds, if not more, contractors. 

To me education, public seminars, perhaps finAncial incentives are a good next step.   

To be blunt, how many people think about this?  That's the place to start. 

See my last link above as far as efficacy. 


Another link to peruse, http://northernnjsafeyardsalliance.org/index.php/health-impacts . Maplewood could follow in the footsteps of our northern neighbor, Canada and be possibly the first town in NJ to ban the cosmetic use of toxic pesticides! 


peteglider said:

simply not enforceable.  Thousands of individuals buying and applying. Hundreds, if not more, contractors. 

To me education, public seminars, perhaps finAncial incentives are a good next step.   

To be blunt, how many people think about this?  That's the place to start. 

It is certainly on my radar.  To my mind, your argument could be made about any new law.


Bump. Anyone up for the task?


I wish somebody would stop NJ Transit from using RoundUp - they have workers with big tanks of the stuff, spraying it all over Maplewood station. Hate seeing that.

Well, there is more than one way to accomplish the right result, and the easiest is educating everyone, like this post.  Didn't the EPA just issue a report tying the bee colony problem to a specific class of insecticides?  I would not use those, if I knew they were in the one I was buying.  Actually, I just don't use any.  But just saying. 


As soon as we stop cars, snowblowers and lawnmowers from using gasoline, growers from using pesticides, paint companies and pretty much everything else from using petroleum products and dogs from farting, i'm in.


In most Provinces of Canada, where they have had a ban for some time, there has been measurable improvements in water quality. ie. Much less pesticide has been found in waterways. The East Branch of the Rahway River, running through Maplewood, is a drinking water source. So why not do something that actually would make a difference and would be an easy realistic change to make. Sort of like quitting smoking, only a lot easier.


Robert_Casotto said:

As soon as we stop cars, snowblowers and lawnmowers from using gasoline, growers from using pesticides, paint companies and pretty much everything else from using petroleum products and dogs from farting, i'm in.

Just to let you know, there are electric cars, electric snow blowers and electric lawn mowers, solar electric systems to power it all, organic farms, vegetable oil based paints, zero VOC paints, etc. and my dog doesn't fart!


The Town was going to use an "organic" approach to maintaining the fields at DeHart Park.  Is this still in effect?


tourn said:


Robert_Casotto said:

As soon as we stop cars, snowblowers and lawnmowers from using gasoline, growers from using pesticides, paint companies and pretty much everything else from using petroleum products and dogs from farting, i'm in.

Just to let you know, there are electric cars, electric snow blowers and electric lawn mowers, solar electric systems to power it all, organic farms, vegetable oil based paints, zero VOC paints, etc. and my dog doesn't fart!

+1


Robert_Casotto said:

As soon as we stop cars, snowblowers and lawnmowers from using gasoline, growers from using pesticides, paint companies and pretty much everything else from using petroleum products and dogs from farting, i'm in.

Adopting an all-or-nothing attitude assures that you make no progress, ever. As tourne has pointed out, the results of doing only this are measurable, so even your implication is incorrect.


We should do this ASAP, in my opinion.  The water we drink is probably the most important thing we ingest that determines our health.  It has always irritated me that, in a town so conscious of the words organic, Green, etc., there are so many people poisoning themselves and others with chemicals for simple cosmetic reasons.  Give the kid an organic apple, and then send him out on the cancer lawn to play!


Think it's a great idea.  My neighbor lovesss her Roundup.  got a a big tank, which she sprays everywhere. I told her it's toxic and she laughs.  So education is not always possible.

I'd me more than happy to help.


The only problem is the golf course, of course.  It's very expensive for them to go organic.  I saw a list of chemicals used on golf course, which is required to be filed with fire dept.  Anyway, must have been 200 different chemicals listed on it!


the south orange water supply has carcinogens, some of which exist in wells under Grove park, while most is coming from outside, as most  locals wells are too polluted to drink.  We endure noise and sound pollution as lawn companies use gas leaf blowers every week in season and spread chemicals to ensure quick growing green lawns that keeps them cutting them as much as possible. After they apply lawn chemicals they place signs to warn off children and pets....but lawns safe to play in when the signs are gone?


The Maplewood, South Orange, and Millburn green teams have developed a program called Re:yard. Re:yard is a community oriented program that awards lawns and gardens for being sustainable. You can go on the web-site and register your yard - there is a rating system - and you will receive a sign which will help you advocate for sustainable lawn care in your neighborhood.

http://www.reyard.org

They also have a Facebook page that offers weekly tips. 

https://www.facebook.com/reyardmapsomil/?fref=ts

The Maplewood Green Team is also looking for more volunteers! http://www.maplewoodisgreen.org/green-team


krugle1 said:

The only problem is the golf course, of course.  It's very expensive for them to go organic.  I saw a list of chemicals used on golf course, which is required to be filed with fire dept.  Anyway, must have been 200 different chemicals listed on it!

I suspect that most of the chemicals used on the golf course are not really necessary.  I mean, would the world end if there was a dandelion on the putting green?  I think not.


Reminds me of the town I lived in previously ... where I received a court summons for exceeding the acceptable number of dandelions on my front lawn ........... no joke


Klinker said:
krugle1 said:

The only problem is the golf course, of course.  It's very expensive for them to go organic.  I saw a list of chemicals used on golf course, which is required to be filed with fire dept.  Anyway, must have been 200 different chemicals listed on it!

I suspect that most of the chemicals used on the golf course are not really necessary.  I mean, would the world end if there was a dandelion on the putting green?  I think not.

Klinker said:
krugle1 said:

The only problem is the golf course, of course.  It's very expensive for them to go organic.  I saw a list of chemicals used on golf course, which is required to be filed with fire dept.  Anyway, must have been 200 different chemicals listed on it!

I suspect that most of the chemicals used on the golf course are not really necessary.  I mean, would the world end if there was a dandelion on the putting green?  I think not.

No, but my handicap would take an absolute BEATING.


Golf courses are not supposed to be green in December. It's not natural.

They can live with some brown grass part of the year.

seaweed said:

Reminds me of the town I lived in previously ... where I received a court summons for exceeding the acceptable number of dandelions on my front lawn ........... no joke



Klinker said:
krugle1 said:

The only problem is the golf course, of course.  It's very expensive for them to go organic.  I saw a list of chemicals used on golf course, which is required to be filed with fire dept.  Anyway, must have been 200 different chemicals listed on it!

I suspect that most of the chemicals used on the golf course are not really necessary.  I mean, would the world end if there was a dandelion on the putting green?  I think not.

amen to that! i actually think dome dandelions would make golf courses look better!

yahooyahoo said:

Golf courses are not supposed to be green in December. It's not natural.


They can live with some brown grass part of the year.
seaweed said:

Reminds me of the town I lived in previously ... where I received a court summons for exceeding the acceptable number of dandelions on my front lawn ........... no joke



Klinker said:
krugle1 said:

The only problem is the golf course, of course.  It's very expensive for them to go organic.  I saw a list of chemicals used on golf course, which is required to be filed with fire dept.  Anyway, must have been 200 different chemicals listed on it!

I suspect that most of the chemicals used on the golf course are not really necessary.  I mean, would the world end if there was a dandelion on the putting green?  I think not.

Chicago banned cosmetic chemicals and, at first, people got upset over weeds. Now nobody cares.


They've got bigger things to worry about.


ctrzaska said:

They've got bigger things to worry about.

We all have bigger things to worry about than some weeds in our lawns. That's why we should all go organic. It's a stress reliever.


It has been done before, why not in Maplewood? See https://www.change.org/p/banlawnpesticides 


Again, see http://bangordailynews.com/2014/11/16/opinion/contributors/ogunquit-leads-the-way-with-ordinance-banning-pesticides/ 


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