Open Letter to the Faith Community

Dear Members of the Faith Community,

We are writing to introduce you to our efforts to reduce the use of dangerous lawn care pesticides and ask you to sign-on to this letter from the faith community. In advance of TruGreen ChemLawn’s annual shareholder’s meeting, and proposed sale, we would like to stress the importance of the dangers of these lawn care pesticides. The company has stated it is one of their core principles to “Honor God In All That We Do,” so we are asking them to hold true to that belief by protecting the health of God’s children. You can learn more about our efforts at www.RefuseToUseChemLawn.org.

The desire for the perfect lawn is leading millions of households across the nation to expose their children, pets, and water supplies to toxic pesticides that threaten public health and the environment.

TruGreen ChemLawn, a subsidiary of ServiceMaster, is the largest lawn care provider in the United States, serving more than 3.4 million households. An analysis of the 32 pesticides by Toxics Action Center revealed that over half of TruGreen ChemLawn’s pesticide products include ingredients that are possible carcinogens, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Toxics Action Center and Pesticide Watch urge residential and commercial customers to Refuse to Use ChemLawn until TruGreen ChemLawn changes the way it does its business. Toxics Action Center and Pesticide Watch request that TruGreen ChemLawn:

Phase out the use of pesticides. TruGreen ChemLawn should immediately stop the use of those pesticides considered possible carcinogens by the USEPA and the IARC.

Disclose all ingredients in their pesticide products, including the so-called inert ingredients. Information about the chemicals ChemLawn uses is not currently readily available to their customers and the public.

Offer a comprehensive organic lawn care program that does not use pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. TruGreen ChemLawn should require its applicators to pass an accredited organic lawn care program.

Stop using children to market products. TruGreen ChemLawn should not enter into any promotional campaign similar to its partnership with US Youth Soccer, which encouraged families to hire TruGreen ChemLawn with promises of financial support for the town’s youth soccer league.

Protect workers while phasing out pesticides. Until phasing out the use of dangerous pesticides, TruGreen ChemLawn should provide adequate protective equipment to employees who apply its products and require companies that wash its uniforms to protect workers by handling the contaminated laundry separately.

Please read the attached letter on behalf of the faith community and e-mail your full name, title and affiliation to paul@pesticidewatch.org if you would like to sign-on. We plan to deliver the letter to the company in advance of their annual shareholder’s meeting, so please e-mail your information by June 22nd. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns or would like to learn about how you can get more involved.

Sincerely,

Paul Schramski, State Director, Pesticide Watch

Alyssa Schuren, Executive Director, Toxics Action Center