Gov hopes to make island a "little bit safer" with pesticide amnesty

Tuesday 08 October 2024

Officials are hoping to make the island that "little bit safer” next month with a pesticide amnesty aimed at all local farmers, gardeners and growers.

Islanders will be able to safely dispose of redundant or revoked pesticides for free throughout November in the first initiative of its kind in two years.

The Infrastructure and Environment Department will be offering a free collection service which aims to ensure environmentally-responsible disposal is available to all members of the agricultural and horticultural community.

Ryan Stone, Senior Regulation Standards Officer (Plant Security), said the amnesty was the first in two years and was taking place at the latter end of the year when growers have time to take stock of their products and are finished using them.

He said that anyone with pesticide products can request a visit from the disposal team's van which will then dispose of the products safely at Bellozanne.

He added: "We don't want there to be products in barns or sheds which could potentially leak and pollute the environment.

"That has impacts not just on the wildlife but can also transfer into boreholes and affect water supplies.

"We're hoping that we can clear up if there is any product out there, and make the island that little bit safer."

Pictured: Officials explained the negative impacts which can occur if pesticides pollute Jersey's environment.

Mike Renouard, Vice President of the Jersey Farmers Union, also said that it was important to dispose of these products properly or horticulturalists risk polluting the water supply and harming marine life.

He said: "We don't want people pouring them down the drain, because that will end up in water streams which causes massive issues, especially if it ends up in a stream that feeds into the reservoirs.

"That can be very difficult to track back and a small amount of pesticide can cause a big problem."

He added that when disposed of domestically, the products can also cause harm to marine life.

This is not the first time the Government has organised a pesticide amnesty.

In 2015, the Environment Department launched one after a stream which feeds Val de la Mare reservoir had to be diverted when it was polluted with illegal weed killer.

Thousands of litres of water were lost to the general supply following the discovery of the banned chemical, simazine, in the stream at Pont Marquet.

Pictured: Environment Minister Steve Luce urged people to take advantage of the initiative.

Environment Minister Steve Luce, who has spent his life before public service working in the agriculture and aquaculture industries, said: "This initiative is a crucial step in ensuring our island remains a healthy and sustainable environment for future generations.

"I urge everyone with unwanted or expired pesticides to take full advantage of this amnesty."

For more information or to arrange collection, contact the Food & Plant team on 01534 873314 or email plantpassports@gov.je.