Council confirms spray use

Last week the Guardian ran a story that Mitre 10’s 82 stores was phasing out products that contained neonicotinoids; imidacloprid, thiacloprid and clothianidin.

The Guardian asked the Palmerston North City Council if it used Roundup or herbicides that contained these chemical ingredients.

Council is considering other means of alternative organic weed control such as coconut oil, meantime PNCC property and parks manager John Brenkley replied:

“Yes. These are common ingredients used to treat sports fields to make playgrounds more accommodating by the removal of Onehunga weed (prickles), clover (slippery surface).

“Its use is avoided around playgrounds, when an alternative organic spray is used.

“Spraying also only happens during off-peak hours and staff using the spray follow Growsafe’s best practise with the use of gloves, face masks and eye protection.”