Pesticides and fertilizers can cause a variety of harmful impacts on public health and the environment. Consider consulting with your team’s suppliers to determine if there are less toxic alternatives to the products that you are currently using.

Reducing your team’s use of pesticides and fertilizers can also save money. Consider adopting the principles of integrated pest management (IPM) outlined below, to prevent infestations before they start.

Consider asking your current pest control suppliers to become certified under the Green Shield Certified Program, which certifies environmentally preferable pest control companies. For more information on Green Shield, contact ipmworks@ipminstitute.org.

It is possible to have healthy, great-looking plants and grass while minimizing the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Minimizing the use of these chemicals means that your team doesn’t need to purchase them as often, saving your time and money.

Schools across the country have adopted integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to reduce child exposure to harmful pesticides. In Montgomery County, Maryland, for example, the school district reduced the number of pesticide applications from 5,000 in 1985 to zero in 1989 using IPM techniques. This reduction yielded an annual savings of $1800 per school. Monroe County schools in Indiana reduced their pest management costs by over $13,000 per year through IPM. Case Studies

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest management that incorporates aspects of a facility’s operation to help reduce the need for pesticides. IPM means preventing infestations before they start, and using pesticides only when necessary. There are various approaches that your team can adopt to decrease its reliance on chemical-based pest control. Consider the steps below, and consult the additional resources at the end of this section for more information.

• Use native plants, trees, and grasses
• Fill cracks in walls and pavement
• Keep vegetation at least 1 foot away from structures
• Clean food-contaminated dishes right away
• Clean garbage cans often
• Keep compost bins properly maintained

Consult the resources below for more information on IPM. Though many of the guides below are aimed at schools, the principles can be applied to other buildings and businesses.

EPA – Integrated Pest Management for Schools
University of California Statewide IPM Program
Green Shield Certified Program
PAN Pesticides Database

There is a wide range of pesticide chemicals, and most of them are potentially harmful to public health and the environment. The best strategy is to reduce the amount of pesticides your team uses. Still, there are some pesticides that are less harmful than others. Consider avoiding pesticides that are classified as carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, or neurotoxins.

Pesticide products are categorized by toxicity on a scale of I – IV, with the lowest numerals indicating the most toxic products. Consider buying products that are categorized as III or IV, and avoid those that are categorized as I or II. Categories III and IV are labeled with the word “Caution”, while Category II products carry the label “Warning”, and Category I products are labeled “Danger”.

Dear _______,

The New York Yankees have initiated an effort to improve our environmental performance in all aspects of our operations. We would like to meet with you to discuss these objectives in more detail. We would also like to discuss ways to cost-effectively switch to less-toxic products within the next few years

We would like to reduce as much as possible the harmful effects on the environment and public health that are associated with our operations, and we would like to speak with you to ensure that the products we are purchasing do not contribute to these problems. In particular, we would like to talk with you about Green Shield certification, a program that certifies environmentally preferable pest control companies.

Please call me as soon as you can so that we can set a time for a meeting to pursue this discussion.

Very Truly Yours,

Pesticides and fertilizers can cause significant harm to public health and the environment. Most pesticides contain potentially toxic chemicals that can cause negative health effects such as cancer and neurological and reproductive disorders. In addition, pesticides can migrate into lakes and streams as it is swept away when it rains. When fertilizers enter a body of water, they can cause oxygen levels to drop, killing aquatic life and posing risks to other species.

Beyond Pesticides
Fact Sheets for individual pesticides
Pesticide Alternatives
EPA – Pesticides
EPA – Fact sheets on specific pesticides
Pesticide Action Network
Pesticide Education Center
Food and Agriculture Organization on fertilizer pollution
EPA – Water Quality
US Department of Agriculture – Water Quality Information Center
National Institute of Health - ToxNet
Environmental Benefits and Cost Savings Calculator for Purchasers
EPA – Pesticide Product Information System
Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management
New York State IPM for Buildings