October 20, 1997
San Francisco Dramatically Cuts Pesticide Use
The amount of pesticides used by the City and County of San
Francisco has dropped dramatically in the past year as a
result of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
mandated by the city's tough anti-pesticide law. Total use
has dropped by approximately two-thirds since 1995 and use of
pesticides linked to cancer and reproductive harm dropped to
almost zero.
The most significant reduction occurred in the Recreation and
Park Department. From December 1994 to November 1995, the
Department used 3,884 pounds of solid pesticide products and
64 gallons of liquid pesticide products considered the most
hazardous by law*. From January 1997 (when the law went into
effect) to August 1997, those totals decreased to 23 pounds
and eight gallons of the most hazardous pesticides. Total use
of pesticide products in the city and county dropped from
4,877 pounds and 372 gallons to 640 pounds and 136 gallons
over the same period.
The Agricultural Commissioner of San Francisco, David
Frieders, whose office provides technical assistance to the
other city departments, said, "It's been exciting. When we
started this project with Pesticide Watch (an environmental
advocacy and watchdog group involved in drafting the IPM law
and as well as implementation), it seemed that there were
many hurdles that were going to be insurmountable. As it
turned out, it's been a relatively enjoyable process.
"I look forward to moving into the next role, which is to
assist the other departments with their IPM plans. We'll be
providing departments with training and education, and
eventually we'll be able to take this even further than San
Francisco, working with my counterparts, the other county
agricultural commissioners throughout California, helping
them and the state to realize IPM is the way to go for pest
control."
In October 1996, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted
unanimously to pass one of the toughest pesticide ordinances
in the nation. The ordinance banned the use of the most toxic
pesticides, including those suspected of causing cancer and
reproductive harm, by city departments and contractors in
1997, and the remaining pesticides by the year 2000.
Exempted from the law are water and wastewater treatment,
anti-microbials (cleaners and sterilizers) used in health
care, and swimming pool water treatment. Limited use or
emergency exemptions may be considered by the Commission on
the Environment, provided city departments or contractors can
prove that they have made a good faith effort to find
alternative approaches and that no effective, economically
viable alternatives exist.
The Commission on the Environment through its Department of
the Environment oversees and regulates the IPM program for
the City and County of San Francisco. The Department of
Agriculture and Weights and Measures provides technical
assistance to city departments and contractors in
implementing their IPM plans.
Gregg Small, director of Pesticide Watch and one of those
involved in drafting and implementing the IPM law, stated,
"We have taken that important first step in reducing
pesticides, but two big challenges remain. The first is to
reduce the amount of pesticides that are still used here in
the parks and other public buildings. Pesticides that
threaten the public health and environment continue to be
used, but we expect these to be eliminated over the next
several years.
"The second major challenge is that people in other
communities continue to be unnecessarily and unknowingly
exposed to toxic pesticides. We hope to use the model here in
San Francisco as an example that we can eliminate the use of
the most hazardous pesticides and safely manage pests so that
the people and the environment are protected."
*The San Francisco pesticide law defines most hazardous
pesticides as: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Category 1 acute toxins; EPA possible, probable or known
carcinogens; and pesticides known to the State of California
to cause cancer or reproductive harm under Proposition 65.
Source: City and County of San Francisco IPM Program &
Pesticide Watch press release, October 15, 1997.
Contact: Gregg Small, Pesticide Watch, 450 Geary #500, San
Francisco, CA 94102; phone (415) 292-1486; fax (415) 292
1497.
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