So what’s the current problem?
Hopefully you’ve become aware of the growing discourse around pesticide usage and their danger to the health of people and the environment. If you haven’t, allow us to bring you up to speed.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is the main ingredient in the popular broad spectrum weedkiller RoundUp. It is currently in the news in America as the maker of Roundup, Bayer, has been court ordered to pay $10.9 Billion in settlements to cancer claims. Glyphosate is a known carcinogen, registered antibiotic (meaning it kills things, bacteria mainly- not a pharmaceutical!), a known endocrine disruptor, a fatal toxin to bees, and extremely toxic to aquatic life. The application and sale of glyphosate-based products has already been banned in many EU countries. A new study was published this year:
Glyphosate in Limerick City and County
Glyphosate based herbicides are currently the go-to for the contractors employed by the Limerick City and County Council. It is sprayed liberally on footpaths, on green spaces, around trees and bushes, children’s playgrounds in Lough Gur and Croom, and close to private homes. There is never any warning from the LCC about application times, and there is never any signage after the spraying is completed. It can take up to 7 days for the weeds to change colour, so it is impossible to know when and where its been applied. And it doesn’t wash off in the rain (unless you have a power washer), once its dry, its made to stick.
How much is being used?
Many of us here in Beyond Pesticides are parents, enviornmentalists, animal lovers, you name it. We are extremely concerned that our streets are being sprayed with glyphosate, worried that it will negatively impact the health of our children, pets, vunerable people, bees etc. The LCC claims that they are cutting the use of chemical herbicides however a recent reponse at a Metropolitian meeting (Sep, 2023) states otherwise:
2023: works ongoing, estimated 600 litres
2022: approximately 600 litres
2020: 596 litres
2019: 530 litres
That is a 13% increase over a 4 year period.
**Minutes of meeting may be found with the link below- begin at page 6.
What’s the goal here?
We would love to see glyphosate completely phased out of use in all public spaces.
**Note: We understand that it may be used as a last resort in the management of invasive spieces like Japanse knottweed and rhodendren. However, as a member of Coilte once informed, correct forestry practices are to inject or paint the plants with the herbicide rather than spray- so really, spraying shouldn’t be done period.
In fact, this has already been added to the leglisation. In 2012 a law was passed in the EU- SI1552012. Article 12 states that it is illegal to use pesticides in public spaces unless there is documentation to state that no alternative will work. This is where we clash with the LCC as they claim to have no other alternatives, nor do they have the captiol to sustain mechanical measures. We aren’t convinced the law mentions or cares about that, but see for yourself. See SI155 2012 and a copy of a Risk Assessment HERE.
There are many alternative strategies that many counties in Ireland have already implemented. Many have completely ended their use of glyphosate in public spaces.
**See County Wicklow in our Inspiration section**
Alternatives?
Yes! There are so many alternatives to using chemical weedkiller. First and foremost, we could simply leave the weeds. This is a strategy that is employed in County Wicklow- if it’s not causing structural damage. We know that this may feel a bit unsightly, however to piggy back on the growing “Leave it Bee” movement, a few dandilions here and there won’t hurt anything. Other alternitives include:
Attachments to street sweepers or weeding machinces such as WEEDHEX https://www.jwhire.ie/products/weed-moss-removal-as-30-weedhex-140
Foam Stream Machine- https://foamstream.ie/
Salt
Irish Organic Weedkiller- a concentrated vinegar-based solution that is used widely by private landscapers throughout Ireland