Pesticides & Fertilizer

are designed for quick results, but not necessarily long-term plant health or public safety. Some fertilizers contain "bio-solids" (derived from municipal sewage sludge), which have been shown to be highly contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the "forever" chemicals that are linked to a wide range of serious health conditions and which are being found increasingly in municipal water supplies.

Other types of fertilizer utilize plastic coatings on fertilizer granules to delay their release. Once the plastic covering breaks down with exposure to the weather, the nutrients are released, but the plastic remains, where it too eventually breaks down into micro- and nanoplastics, which are also a growing threat to human health.

Pesticides kill not only target organisms, but beneficial ones as well, weakening grass plants and making them dependent on continued nutritional feeding and chemical pest control. Pesticides generally are nonselective, which means that they kill everything they touch, not just their intended target. Mosquito sprays, for example, are broad-spectrum insecticides, which harm bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. In humans, pesticides are associated with increased risk of certain cancers, neurological and developmental problems, reproductive harm and birth defects. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to these problems.

Recent advances in product technology and biological research have made natural or "organic" landscaping the preferred and responsible method of maintaining municipal properties. Once developed and properly implemented, a natural turf program costs less than a chemical program. Natural turf has far fewer pest infestation problems and is virtually indistinguishable from its non-organic competition.

It's important to remember that an EPA registration number on a product does not mean that the product is safe, even when used as directed. Rather, it indicates that there are safety concerns that require registration and monitoring. Over the years, several products with EPA registrations have been banned. Several states have passed legislation prohibiting the use of pesticides on school playing fields, and many communities have made the decision to stop using them on town-owned land.