Stop Pesticide Use in your Community: Getting Started

Take Your First Steps to Becoming a Non Toxic Community

First: gather all information about products being used in your city or town (HOA, parks, schools, etc.) This information can be obtained by contacting your city or town hall and asking for the department that can give you a list of products being used. This is usually parks and recreation or similar. Searching the name of your city and the keywords "records request" will usually bring you to the necessary forms to file a formal request. 

Once you find the right department or form, ask for the labels of each pesticide product and fertilizer being used. You can also ask for the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each, but these can easily be found online once you have the names of the products active ingredients. It's okay to skip those to keep the request more targeted. You are entitled to all of this information, and they should not give you a hard time.

Once you have your list, you can then research each product and begin compiling scientific studies showing harm, and alternative methods to use instead. Our website can help you.

Inform other parents and residents of the situation, this will help you gain support and form a team to work together.

Depending on where you are and what you are trying to achieve, you may need to put together packets for decision makers, create a presentation to give, and continue to educate and inform others.

Whatever your plan of action, always remember to stay professional and polite, but firm. Offer your assistance to decision makers, rather than being seen as an adversary. And be prepared to be persistent, because we don't always get the answer we want right away. Many successful groups faced a lot of apathy and resistance at first, but they stuck with it and had results. You can too!

Helpful links:

7 Tips to Inspire Your Facebook Supporters into Action!

How Parents Removed RoundUp and Other Pesticides from Their Town
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Smart Health Talk Interview - Non Toxic Cities