24/12/2024
Published Barrhead News On Line
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Weedkiller to be used in East Renfrewshire despite calls for ban
4 hrs ago
By Drew Sandelands
Local Democracy Reporter
A TYPE of weedkiller will continue to be used in East Renfrewshire despite calls for a ban.
Council staff have trialled alternative methods of weed control, to reduce glyphosate usage, but reported it remains the “most effective product at this time”.
Tests were held after hundreds of people signed a petition opposing the use of glyphosate-based herbicides, and councillors called for replacements to be explored.
In September last year, a motion from Cllr David Macdonald noted “increasing public concern about the use of pesticides and herbicides, particularly those containing glyphosate, in weed control and the potential damage to health and to biodiversity”.
A petition set up by Cllr Macdonald, an independent, which calls for an end to the use of glyphosate has amassed over 400 signatures. It states the product is “not safe to touch or ingest shortly after being sprayed” and is causing a decrease in bee populations.
His motion asked the council to commit to the aim of “a herbicide-free council” and to set a timetable for the “phased elimination of herbicide use by council resources and their contractors”.
However, it was amended by Labour and Conservative councillors, who agreed to pilot alternative methods of weed control but did not agree to eliminate the use of herbicides.
They noted other councils had struggled to find alternatives which were “cost-effective, less labour and equipment intensive and have better customer and quality outcomes”.
Following the trials, an official told councillors there is “no one way of effective weed control that’s consistent across councils”. Glyphosate is used by the council for weed control on roads, pavements and open spaces.
The trials included reducing the number of applications of glyphosate from three per year to two. Officials said this demonstrated “a greater occurrence of weeds growing back when compared to the normal process of three treatments per year”.
It also led to extra manual treatments of weeds at an approximate staffing cost of £1,600, the report stated. WeedStriker, a hot water treatment, was trialled, but “regrowth appeared within four to five days, providing no lasting benefit”.
Katoun Gold, which used “pelargonic acid (naturally occurring fatty acid) and New-Way weed spray, which is predominantly acetic acid (vinegar) and contains no glyphosate”, were also tried.
New-Way weed spray was “significantly less effective”, officials reported, while Katoun Gold was “initially effective” at treating the visible weeds in the controlled area, but had “quicker periods of regrowth than would be seen with glyphosate”. While New-Way was cheaper than glyphosate, Katoun Gold, which would need to be applied more often, was over £90 more for every five litres. The results of the trials will continue to be reviewed. Glyphosate is not used in Rouken Glen Park and won’t be used in Cowan Park. The official said it is also not used around play park equipment.
When it is required, it is “targeted in its application” by “trained personnel” wearing protective equipment.
Cllr Andrew Anderson, Labour, said: “I think the reduced use and what you’ve put in place in terms of the protective measures and where it is used, I’m quite glad to hear that.
“Unfortunately it does seem that it is still the best solution, but at least we’re doing the right things until we find a suitable alternative.”
The council report added the European assessed glyphosate and found there is “currently no scientific or legal justification for a ban”.
It stated: “While a standalone UK regulation regime on pesticides is still anticipated, post-Brexit, the relevant DEFRA minister indicated at the time of EU approval that glyphosate would continue to be approved for use in the UK.”
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