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The Ontario Government's new lawn pesticide ban - which should come
into effect in early 2009 - will do much to protect human and
environmental health. But it's also becoming clear the legislation will
be a boon to our economy -- boosting business and creating green jobs.
Communities across Canada which already have pesticide restrictions have
enjoyed a major expansion of their lawn care sector. For example, in the
five years following a pesticide ban in Halifax the number of lawn care
firms in the city grew from 118 to 180 - an increase of 53%, according
to Statistics Canada. The number of employees in the sector also grew.
As well, Stats Can reports the number of landscaping and lawn care
businesses in Toronto has grown each year since that city passed a
pesticide ban.
Why does the non-toxic route help the economy? For one thing, it's a bit
more labour-intensive, relying less on chemicals and more on
hand-weeding. But it also requires some specialized knowledge of plant
and soil ecology which homeowners often lack - hence their increased
reliance on organic professionals.
Ontario's organic lawn care providers are booming. For instance,
Barrie-based Turf Logic Inc will be doubling its business by Spring,
2009. The Oshawa-based organic firm, Environmental Factor, has grown its
business 10-fold over the last eight years.
It's also the case that many organic lawn products (such as corn gluten
meal, horticultural vinegar, compost, and beneficial nematodes) are
produced right here in Ontario -- which means more business for our
manufacturers. (By contrast, many of the toxic lawn chemicals are made
in the U.S. or Europe.)
Two questions often raised during discussions of market change are,
"Will the transition happen smoothly and will the new services be
affordable?" In this case, the answer to both is yes. (next column)
13/01/2009 04:15 PM
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(continued)
More than five million Ontarians live in municipalities
which already require non-toxic lawn care. So the industry already has
the know-how and products -- including corn gluten meal for weeds and
nematodes for grubs -- to provide pesticide-free services province-wide.
As well, major retailers (such as Rona and Home Depot) are now committed
to the non-toxic approach, meaning do-it-yourselfers have everything
they require.
What about costs to the consumer? A recent survey of
Ontario lawn companies showed the price of pesticide-free services is
competitive with traditional services and is sometimes exactly the same.
(One company, for example, charges $159.88 to treat a 2,500 square foot
property -whichever service the customer picks.) And as more firms go
organic, prices will drop. Non-toxic lawn care not only produces
beautiful properties - just look at the Stratford Festival lawns, the
campus of Trent University, or the grounds of the Ontario legislature -
but it's also very cost-effective.
Scientists have long told us that pesticides are associated with cancer
(such as non-Hodgkins lymphoma), neurological illness (such as
Parkinson's Disease), and birth defects. Health authorities - including
the Canadian Cancer Society, the Registered Nurses' Association of
Ontario, and the Ontario College of Family Physicians - have long
supported cosmetic pesticide bans.
But now we know that, in addition to its health benefits, going
pesticide-free also makes good economic sense.
Gideon Forman is Executive Director of the Canadian Association of
Physicians for the Environment. www.cape.ca (416) 306-2273
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