City parks and cemeteries test alternative weedkiller
City leaders are continuing efforts to phase out use of a weedkiller linked to cancer claims.
Lastyear,membersofSunderland City Council backed a motion calling for the local authority to “eliminate” the use of pesticides, including glyphosate.
The plans followed concerns over the use of chemicals around housing estates, parks and gardens and potential impacts on “human, animal and environmental health”.
Last month, councillors heard a pilot scheme is testing new approaches to tackling weeds.
Cllr Claire Rowntree, deputy leader of the council, said: “An action plan is under way andisbeingdevelopedinpartnership with residents across the city via our Let’s Talk Weeds campaign.
“Wewanttohearfromresidents to help us identify priorities for managing weeds across the city as we move away from glyphosate use.
“We have, to date, stopped the use of chemical pesticides at cemeteries and in Green Flag parks, reduced the use of chemical pesticides on soft surface areas such as open spaces, formal parks, play areas, shrub beds, signs, fence and tree lines, and we have created wildflowering areas in many of the locations.
A six-month trial period started in April in play areas, parks and cemeteries across the city to test alternatives to glyphosate, which councillors voted to phase out
last year.
In May, a US jury ordered agribusiness giant Monsanto to pay a combined $2.055billion (£1.58billion) to a couple claiming that the company’s popular weedkiller Roundup Ready, whose active ingredient is glyphosate, caused their cancers.
However, the US Environmental Protection Agency insists the weedkiller is safe and poses “no risks of concern” for people exposed to it.
Cllr Rowntree added the
pilot scheme would help the council understand the “most effective weed control methods”.
This includes monitoring alternatives to glyphosate, as well as wider impacts on council resources, training requirements and environmental and visual impacts.
Cllr Rowntree said: “Once we have the results of the pilot and have considered our residents’ views, we will make sure to share our decision on our future long-term weedkilling strategy.”