A MEMBER of the Harlow Green Party attended Harlow Council to ask a number of questions on use of weedkiller.

Jennifer Steadman asked:

Can the person responsible for approving the purchase of the Glyphosate
weedkillers: Nomix, Barclay and Pistol that the council regularly spray around
Harlow on lampposts, grass verges, near schools and playgrounds etc please
advise me if there any plans to source products that are less harmful to
people, wildlife and the planet?

For example; products that don’t contain glyphosate which has carcinogenic
properties. Products such as acetic acid, soap, steam, salt, iron-based sprays
or pelargonic fatty acids which naturally occur in plants have been proven to
be effective on different types of weeds and wont cause any risk of harm to
the environment, its inhabitants and residents.

Reply from Councillor Nicky Purse (Portfolio Holder for Environment
and Sustainability):
The approval of chemical herbicide is managed overall by the Chemical
Regulation Division (CRD) part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
working closely with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(DEFRA).

Glyphosate products are approved for use. Currently Harlow Council permits
the usage of Glyphosate products and it remains the mainstay of its weed
control.

Officers and managers have explored the possible use of alternate products
and we regularly work with other Local Authorities to explore other options.
A trial was attended on ‘foam stream’ by weedtech run by Southend Council.
Initial views was the lack of flexibility of the machine around the extensive
hard surfaces and levels found in Harlow.

Currently alternative methods appear to be less effective at weed control and
each method does have its own set of negatives to be aware of. We remain
open minded as new methods may be available yet mindful of the impact on
resource and efficiency.