Pesticides

Kamloops extends pesticide ban to municipal property

KAMLOOPS - A ban on pesticide use on residential ornamental shrubs, flower beds and grass now extends to city parks and properties in Kamloops. In a split 5-4 vote yesterday, Dec. 15, council voted to extend the ban to include all civic properties and city parks. Council had already agreed to implement a residential ban, which will begin...

Kamloops looking to expand pesticide ban to city parks

KAMLOOPS - After passing a new bylaw banning the residential cosmetic use of pesticides, council will decide whether to take the bylaw one step further and ban the same use on city land. On Tuesday, Dec. 15, council will debate banning the cosmetic use of pesticides on municipal property, including parks like Riverside. A residential...

Councillors for pesticide ban say public and business were appropriately consulted

KAMLOOPS – The decision by Kamloops councillors to approve a ban on pesticides in the city next year was a "foregone conclusion," one councillor says. The issue was all but decided because seven of nine councillors already debated the concept before elections last November, Coun. Donovan Cavers says. “I thought it was a foregone conclusion,”...

Businesses question how City of Kamloops handled pesticide ban

KAMLOOPS – Local lawn care businesses, directly affected by the new city pesticide ban, question the process which led to Kamloops city council’s decision. The City of Kamloops issued a ban on cosmetic pesticide use on Tuesday, July 14. As of January 1, 2016, pesticide use is no longer permitted on residential lawns, flower beds...

Kamloops pesticide ban passes, will be implemented January 2016

KAMLOOPS – Next year residents of Kamloops will no longer be able to hire licensed applicators to spray their lawns or ornamental shrubs. A ban on cosmetic pesticide use was passed today, July 14, in city council to a round of applause from those who remained in council chambers for the decision.  The proposed ban,...

Pesticide ban back on the table in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – The notion of a Kamloops-wide ban on cosmetic pesticide use is back on the city’s agenda this week. Tabled on June 2, the debate has seen lobbying from both sides of the aisle via the media, city council delegations and online petitions. First introduced as a motion by Coun. Tina Lange about six weeks...

Pesticides aren’t dangerous; homeowners are

KAMLOOPS – Pesticides are not inherently dangerous. That and the many other misconceptions about pesticides stem from ignorance according to a local landscaper who deals with the chemicals regularly. “A lot of people… aren’t educated enough, and they get scared. They think that applying all pesticides are bad because somebody told them,” Corey Munegatto says. Munegatto...

Kamloops city gardener talks about alternatives to pesticides

KAMLOOPS – A few bugs or noxious weeds are not enough to throw city gardeners off their game, not when they have goats and ladybugs on their side. Kirsten Wourms, a head gardener with the citiy, manages a complex weed and pest management schedule that uses organic methods wherever possible to keep Kamloops green, clean...

Kamloops pesticide debate put off until July

KAMLOOPS – A motion to prohibit cosmetic pesticides drew a large crowd to council chambers this week, but council was not quite ready to have the discussion many residents seemed more than ready to start. Residents packed council chambers yesterday, Tuesday, June 2, to voice their opinions regarding Coun. Tina Lange’s motion to further prohibit...

Pesticide ban proposal bugs some residents

KAMLOOPS – A proposal on banning pesticides for cosmetic purposes faced opposition almost immediately after it was announced. Coun. Tina Lange’s motion calls cosmetic pesticides non-essential and says they pose needless risk to the health of people and pets. She says because they are spread through the air, water and soil there is no safe,...