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Toulouse promotes alternatives to herbicides for environmental protection
Toulouse is promoting alternatives to herbicides, stressing the importance of protecting residents’ health, soil, water and biodiversity.
Headed by Mayor of Toulouse Jean-Luc Moudenc, city authorities reminded that Toulouse has not been using herbicides for the maintenance of public green spaces since 2017.
Toulouse pointed out that use of herbicides has been replaced by mowing, mulching and other techniques for maintaining green areas.
Excessive use of chemicals in green areas has negative effects on quality of air and water, and long-term effects on health, with city authorities warning that pesticides and other chemicals are present in food and water.
Toulouse noted that the move away from chemical herbicides and employment of different methods for maintenance of public green spaces has positive effects on health and biodiversity by limiting the amount of chemicals that infiltrate soil and groundwater.
City authorities warned that 1 gram of active chemicals can pollute up to 10,000 cubic metres of water, stressing the importance of stepping up environmental protection.
Besides negative effects on health, pollution affects microorganisms in the soil and water, birds and insects, and especially pollinators.
Toulouse called on residents to mow their gardens and driveways and compost their clippings to cut the use of herbicides and protect the environment.
(Photo credit: Toulouse)
