Ban council use of toxic weedkillers in parks and playgrounds – and use olive oil-based foam instead, say campaigners
- Councils spraying pavements, playgrounds and parks with up to 22 weedkillers
- They are using weedkillers such as glyphosate which have been linked to cancer
- The Pesticide Action Network says toxic chemicals are unnecessary for weeds
Toxic weedkillers should no longer be used in parks and playgrounds – and instead councils should get rid of weeds with olive-oil based foam, say campaigners.
The Pesticide Action Network warns that councils are spraying pavements, playgrounds and parks with up to 22 weedkillers that could put human health at risk.
They are using weedkillers such as glyphosate, which have been linked to cancer, to make their areas look ‘neat and tidy’, a report claims. The details emerged from a string of freedom of information requests by the charity.
The Pesticide Action Network warns that councils are spraying pavements, playgrounds and parks with up to 22 weedkillers that could put human health at risk
But the network says toxic chemicals, which can also endanger pets and wildlife, are unnecessary to control weeds in towns and cities. For tough weeds councils should use a hot foam treatment that is non-toxic to humans.
One version is made from olive oil, another from coconut oil, rapeseed oil, potatoes, wheat and maize.
Hot foams use a spray combining the non-toxic foam and water at near boiling point to kill weeds.
The foam acts as an insulating blanket to maintain the high temperature. This causes the weeds’ cells to collapse, killing them and making them easy to pull out.
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