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TruGreen Not Yet “Truly Green”

Lawn Care Giant Moves Towards Organic Practices, Falling Short of Community Demands

Sacramento, CA – Today, residents across the country called on lawn care giant TruGreen to “Go Truly Green.” Heeding community concerns, TruGreen (ChemLawn) announced efforts late last week to reduce the use of some toxic lawn care products. For the past four years, environmental and health organizations like Pesticide Watch and Toxics Action Center have called on the company to phase out the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers, and offer a comprehensive organic lawn care line.

“Last week’s announcement signals a step in the right direction, but falls short of the mark,” said Paul Schramski, State Director of Pesticide Watch. “While TruGreen may be more targeted, their practices remain toxic.”

TruGreen announced efforts last week to launch a “Targeted Lawn Care” program, limiting the use of some pesticides. However, the company made no public commitment to eliminating the use of “suspected” or “possible” carcinogens, as recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Increasingly, scientists link many of the pesticides, like 2,4-D, even in very small amounts, to forms of cancer like Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

The company announced plans to continue using pesticides, and like other lawn care companies, will not provide a comprehensive list of all the chemicals the company uses. The so-called “inert” ingredients in TruGreen’s pesticide products, are not shared with families or businesses, and often pose as much threat to health as their “active” counterparts. Furthermore, “inert” chemicals often make up a super-majority of the product, up to 99% in some cases.

“The devil is in the details,” said Simone Mellor of Toxics Action Center. “What’s on the label, and what’s not, still pose threats to our communities and environment. TruGreen has a special responsibility as the industry leader to disclose all of the pesticides it uses.”

In addition, the company continues to use chemical fertilizers. In last week’s press release, and in written statements from the company, TruGreen inferred that they are using 100% organic fertilizers in their new “TruBlend” formula. However, the company fails to disclose what percentage of the overall fertilizer is organic, and what percentage is the traditional chemical fertilizer.

The U.S. EPA estimates that only 35% of fertilizers ever reach their target, with the rest becoming airborne or percolating into groundwater. In addition, these fertilizers weaken the soil system, and leave it more dependent on pesticides. Local governments at the urging of their residents, are taking maters into their own hands and protecting residents and waterways from the misuse of chemical fertilizers. Counties in Florida, for example, have already passed bans on the use of chemical fertilizers near the coast.

“Truly green lawn care does not target the use of toxins on a yard where beneficial soil organisms live and children play. Organic fertilizers cannot protect the living soil from the toxic effects of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides resulting in an unhealthy soil and a lawn susceptible to pests. A truly green lawn nurtures the healthy living soil that creates strong pest-free lawns,” said Steven Zien, Executive Director of Biological Urban Gardening Services (BUGS).

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