More are switching to safe and eco-friendly use
Councils like Glastonbury decided in 2016, if there was any doubt as to the chemical’s safety, to apply the precautionary principle and immediately stop use.
Glastonbury has been successfully removing weeds by using safe alternatives, prioritising the health of its community. Hammersmith and Fulham also switched to using safe alternatives without hesitation, removing the weeds using safe environmentally friendly methods. Protecting pets, people and planet above profit.
Unfortunately, Scotland’s Capital city seems to have been somewhat side tracked and although they were among the first to acknowledge the urgent need to stop using this chemical and remove the weeds safely way back in 2017, they still in 2024 actively choose to apply poison to our pavements and local areas, even outside our homes.
Safe alternatives like hot water or Foamstream machines are not only affordable at around £20,000, they are already used successfully worldwide to protect the environment and biodiversity. When used correctly they are not only safer for health and the environment but they actually save councils money and are more effective. Multi-function capabilities also mean they are able to remove chewing gum and graffiti, clean bus shelters and can be used all year round and in all weathers.
With so much emphasis on health and the environment today it seems almost ludicrous and extremely odd and concerning to continue to force a known harmful to health and environment chemical upon communities we claim to represent and protect.
Councils and communities have the responsibility to make this work. Surely our role and duty as responsible adults is to protect our most vulnerable and our next generation?
It may be doubtful that any future generations will ever wonder why companies protected their profits or why councils protected their reputations but they may indeed wonder and be shocked at why we so easily let it happen.