Decision makers: Durham County Council
The result of my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the local authority in connection with its glyphosate use
What methods of weed control are used in all your public spaces?
Glyphosate is the most regularly used method of weed control in County Durham, with it primarily being administered by hand (wand applicator) in an aqueous solution. it is also administered via spray devices attached to some road sweepers (no mix dual: glyphosate and sulfosulfuron).
Some other methods are used sparingly for specific targeted purposes, but such applications are not widespread and very much localised to tackle specific issues. In the grounds Maintenance team (Clean and Green), we currently use Chikara (Flazasulfuron), Katoun Gold (Pelargonic acid), Junction (florsulam & ester).
How much of the council's budget is spent on weed control in £ and what % is that of the whole budget?
Information not held. This is not a metric we track as spends are contained within the wider grounds maintenance budget and cannot be disaggregated form that budget.
What specific pesticides are used on your public spaces?
Please see answer to question 1.
Why were those pesticides chosen?
If by pesticides, this means means weed control, they are chosen for effectiveness and our ability to use them safely in the public realm.
What discussions have been held internally on the choice of weed control?
There are no records available of internal discussions on glyphosate use.
What are the deciding factors in selecting your chosen method of weed control? Effectiveness and cost, however, any chemical used in public open spaces must adhere to rigorous controls and safety standards, and as such safety and adherence to these standards is a primary concern.
When was this issue last discussed publicly and what was the outcome?
See response below. This topic is often mentioned at various public council meetings and was most recently spoken about at the environmental and sustainable communities overview and scrutiny committee in January of this year. we do not keep records of every meeting that mentions weed control specifically, however the following link will provide records of all recorded meetings https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=153 Additionally, the following link is for the documents of the mentioned escosc meeting https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=162&MID=15840
When do you expect to discuss the options for weed control again?
Options for weed control is an ongoing conversation, we are constantly assessing the market to look for viable options in the county. there is no formal timescales for review.
What investigations are yet to be carried out into alternative options for weed control?
We have carried out investigations in the past into acetic acid, pelargonic acid, burning and others. all proved less effective and more costly than glyphosate for general use. This was confirmed by a 2021 study by Cardiff Council and Cardiff university (https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/documents/s168867/Appendix%203.pdf)
What protections are provided for the public coming into contact with pesticides used?
We take great to use only chemicals which are deemed safe to use on public spaces, this comes from constantly checking UK and EU guidance and following all recommended safety instructions, along with following strict risk assessments and mitigations for chemical application.
What protections are provided for your employees coming into contact with pesticides used?
We ensure that staff are well equipped with relevant PPE for application and use of relevant chemicals, this could include facemasks, overalls, goggles, nitrile gloves, wellington/protective barrier boots etc. this is to protect them from any longer term exposure to the chemicals. Our provider informed us that the above protections were not required for glyphosate, but our internal procedures are in place for added protections across all chemical use.