The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is reminding residents to familiarize themselves with their municipal bylaws on the use of pesticides (including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides) before applying them to their lawn and gardens.
The CVRD developed the “Nature Works” program which provides education and awareness on the use of pesticide alternatives by people in municipalities with pesticide bylaws, and by others who simply want to know more about creating pesticide-free lawns and gardens. The City of Courtenay, Town of Comox and the Village of Cumberland have bylaws that prohibit the use of pesticides however some applications are exempt from the bylaws. The following treatments are allowed:
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Insecticidal and herbicidal soap |
Insect bait stations |
Lime sulphur |
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BTK(Bacillus thuringienus kurstaki) |
Borax/Boran compounds |
Ferric phosphate |
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Nematodes and other biological control organisms |
Dormant oils and horticultural oils |
Pheromone traps |
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Injected tree treatments |
Bordeaux mixture, sulphur compounds |
Diatomaceous earth |
“The CVRD encourages the use of pesticide alternatives such as adding beneficial insects, feeding your soil with compost and choosing the right plant for the right place in your garden,” said Patty Rose, Comox Strathcona waste management's compost educator. “Residents are welcome to visit the compost education centre (4795 Headquarters Road, Courtenay) to learn and ask for advice on ways to treat their lawns and gardens responsibly.”
If homeowners want to dispose of pesticides they can be returned in their original containers to a “Product Care” certified facility such as the Courtenay Return-It Depot located at 493 Puntledge Road.
For more information on pesticide alternatives and to link to the municipal bylaws, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/pesticidealternatives.