PEI

Charlottetown bans use of cosmetic pesticides

The City of Charlottetown will ban the use of cosmetic pesticides starting in the new year.

The new bylaw goes into effect on January 1, 2017

It bans the use of non-domestic pesticides on any residential or commercial property in the town with some exceptions.

The City of Charlottetown will ban the use of cosmetic pesticides starting in the new year.

The bylaw passed third reading by a vote of 5-3 late Monday afternoon at city council.

A dozen supporters of the ban watched in the public gallery.

Roger Gordon of Pesticide Free PEI said he was pleased with the ban, and would like to see Summerside adopt a similar ban next.

New rules

The new bylaw is based on similar bans in Cornwall and Stratford.  

It bans the use of non-domestic pesticides on any residential or commercial property in the town with some exceptions such as golf courses, agriculture use or public utilities land.

The new bylaw is based on the ones in Cornwall and Stratford. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

There is a list of 41 allowable pesticides, and professional applicators can apply for an exception in the case of infestations of invasive species or tree bugs for a $50 fee.

The fines for non-compliance will range from $1,000 to $2,500 for a first offense and go up as high as $5,000 for subsequent offenses. 

The bylaw goes into effect on January 1, 2017.

With files from Natalia Goodwin