Grass is greener in pesticide-free-yard

From the Westford Eagle

     The grass is greener without pesticides. A new Westford Pesticide Policy Committee and a Water Department program will educate Westford residents about pesticide reduction.
     The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at UMass Lowell awarded a grant for the second year to the Westford Water Department to continue to build upon its project "Healthy Lawns for Healthy Families."
     The project was awarded $14,000, $2,000 more than last year, to raise public awareness of the effects of pesticides on human health and water resources. Materials and workshops will be developed to educate residents, nurseries, and lawn care providers about using safer alternatives for lawn care.
     The Water Department will partner with nine neighboring towns- Acton, Ayer, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Groton, Harvard and Littleton- as well as the North Central Regional Solid Waste cooperative located in Groton to promote safer lawn care.
     "The value of expanding the TURI grant project to more surrounding towns is that water resources are better protected by reducing pesticide use on a regional basis. These substances move through the environment and are hard to track where they originate, so use reduction is really the best way to ensure that water resources are protected," said Elaine Major, project manager and environmental compliance manager for the town of Westford.
      "In Westford, we're already building on last year's success by developing a pesticide policy for the town that residents will have an opportunity to vote on," Major said.
     "Elaine understands the importance and the linkages between the actual pesticide use and how those substances travel and what people can do to help," said TURI Outreach Coordinator Karen Angelo.
     The Board of Selectmen appointed a Pesticide Policy Committee Tuesday that includes 13 voting members: Westford residents Eric Fahle of the Conservation Commission, Robin Fullford of the Water Department, Diane Duane of the Conservation Trust, Jessica Cajigas of the Board of Health and members to be named from the Parks and Recreation Department, Highway Department, School Department and Historical Commission.
     Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Dini Healy-Coffin said that a board that includes members of so many town departments will be beneficial to the town.
     "Having a committee like this in the town of Westford, to understand this issue and communicate it to the town, is very helpful," Angelo said.

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