[E-updates] Education key to better compost in the future

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:			City of Lawrence, Kansas
							Waste Reduction and
Recycling Division
							November 5, 2003

CONTACT:						Bob Yoos, Solid
Waste Division Manager
							832-3022
Mollie Mangerich, Operations Supervisor
							832-3030

Education key to better compost in the future

(Lawrence, Kansas) - The City's Solid Waste Division has decided to cancel
the distribution of compost to the community this fall due to recent
laboratory findings of unacceptable levels of the herbicide ingredient,
Clopyralid in the finished compost.  This particular herbicide does not
degrade through the composting process unlike other herbicides and can
damage susceptible plants such as tomatoes, peas and beans.  These
susceptible plants are plants often found in backyard gardens and nurseries
- the most prevalent user groups of the finished compost.  The finished
compost would not create problems in turf only applications.

"The reason we wanted to test this year's compost prior to distribution was
the prevalence of Clopyralid found in municipal compost facilities in
California, Washington, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.  We wanted to know if this
particular herbicide was being used locally on residential lawns to such an
extent that it might cause plant damage when used as compost for backyard
gardens", says Mollie Mangerich.  "We sent a composite sample to a
laboratory in Moscow, Idaho and it came back with the result of Clopyralid
found at 52 parts per billion (ppb) in our compost - a level which can be
harmful to susceptible plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, peas,
beans and sunflowers - plants often grown in backyard gardens and
nurseries".

Clopyralid is the active ingredient in several herbicide products used to
control broadleaf weeds and exhibits low acute toxicity to humans and has a
high efficacy rate on target weeds.  Because of these attributes, when
properly applied, it provides great benefit in agricultural and commercial
uses.  "The transference occurs when this ingredient is applied to
residential lawns and then those grass clippings are set out for collection
destined for our compost facility", says Mangerich.  

The Solid Waste Division believes grass clippings from residential lawns are
likely the primary source of the herbicide residue.  City crews collect
grass clippings and leaves on a weekly basis, March through November, and
transport them to the compost facility for processing.

The compost processed during 2003 will likely be held back for further
testing next.  Any new compost produced will be tested for this herbicide
before any future public distribution is planned.

Education is Key
There are twenty-eight herbicide products containing the active ingredient
Clopyralid registered for use in Kansas and are manufactured and distributed
for agricultural use and for use on residential lawns available through
chemical supply stores and in retail stores.  

"Our community needs to learn how to reduce the transfer of this particular
herbicide into our compost since the chemical's use is not restricted in the
State of Kansas at this time", says Mangerich.  Here are some tips:

* Do not use herbicide products containing Clopyralid on residential lawns.
* Instruct your lawn-care professional to not use Clopyralid-containing
herbicide products on your property.
* Do not set out grass clippings that have been treated with products
containing Clopyralid for city collection and composting.
* Do not compost materials in your backyard that have been treated with a
Clopyralid-containing herbicide. 
* If you wish to use products containing Clopyralid, simply mow your lawn
and leave the grass clippings on the lawn to - they will disintegrate.

Kansas State University Department of Agriculture Pesticide and IPM Program
provides this list of brands of herbicides known to contain the active
ingredient Clopyralid that are registered and sold in Kansas are:

16-4-8 with Millennium Ultra Herbicide
Accent Gold Herbicide
Accent Gold WDG
Battleship
Chaser Ultra
Confront
Curtail
Curtail M
Hornet
Hornet WDG

Lesco Momentum Premium Selective
     Herbicide #062479
Lontrel Turf and Ornamental
Millennium Ultra Plus
Millennium Ultra Weed & Feed 20-5-10
Momentum Weed & Feed 0-0-7
Momentum Weed & Feed 21-0-12
Preen N Green Lawns
Redeem R&P
Riverdale Millennium Ultra Selective
     Herbicide
Riverdale Trupower TM Selective Herbicide
Stinger
Strike 3 Ultra
Tee Time 18-5-9 With Millennium Ultra
     Herbicide
Transline
Weed & Feed
Weed & Feed 32-3-5
Weed & Feed with Millennium Ultra HJE
Winter Weed & Feed 24-4-14




_____________________________
Lisa K. Patterson
Communications Coordinator
City of Lawrence
PO Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 832-3406
fax (785) 832-3405
lpatterson@ci.lawrence.ks.us
http://www.lawrenceks.org