A person spraying grass with fertilizer

Integrated Pest Management

An alternative to the use of pesticides is integrated pest management, or IPM, an ecosystem-based strategy for pest control that seeks to eliminate the need for the use of pesticides by focusing on the long-term prevention of pest infestations. Actions include improved sanitation, building maintenance, mechanical and biological controls, and the elimination of environments conducive to pests. IPM assumes there are hazards associated with nearly all pesticide applications and seeks to avoid them wherever possible. 

Proposed procurement goals: 
Municipal policy: 
  • Adopt and implement a comprehensive IPM program for the municipality. The program should incorporate the 6 program essentials, and at a minimum include: A designated IPM coordinator; standard IPM procedures; regular staff training; informational resources for staff; a system to track pests and pesticide use; reporting procedures for improper pesticide use; a public outreach component; IPM contract provisions in all contracts; stormwater NPDES review; benchmarks for implementation; regular review and evaluation of efforts; staff trained to monitor and prevent pest problems by spotting and remedying conditions that are conducive to pest infestations.
  • Adopt and implement a comprehensive IPM approach at 100% of all facilities indoors and outdoors, including all public buildings, parks and greenbelts, grounds and open space; urban forestry, and other property owned or managed by the municipality and contractors.
  • Eliminate pesticide use on the grounds at all playgrounds, schools and day care centers
  • Introduce low/ no mow areas into parkland 
  • Create pollinator gardens and adopt a pollinator habitat policy 
  • Introduce sheep/ goats to keep grass mowed/ invasives at bay
  • Raise honey on municipal land/ buildings
  • Take the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to help save monarchs by committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community.
  • Restrict the use of high hazard and toxic pesticides (including neonicotinoids, glyphosate, chlorpyrifos) on public and private property by policy—including lawns, playing fields, playgrounds, and children’s facilities.
Case studies and resources: 
  • Non Toxic Communities: List of pesticide-related policies in cities across the country
  • Providence, RIPesticide-free PVD model policy; voluntary pledge that encourages residents, property owners, and businesses to commit to eliminating the use of harmful chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers in lawns and gardens, as well as other toxic chemicals in the home.
  • Beyond PesticidesRodenticides
  • Beyond Pesticides and Organic Consumers Association: Map of pesticide reform policies
  • List of bans on glyphosate, the active ingredient in weed killer
  • Stonyfield's PlayFree initiative to increase the number of organic playing fields for children 
  • Practice Green HealthSample language for a request for proposal (RFP) for an integrated pest management contract
  • Portland, OR: ​Portland City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that prohibits the use of synthetic pesticides for outdoor pest management on public and private property in 2018.
  • Chicago, IL: ​​In 2021, it was announced that a number of parks would be transitioning to organic management as part of Stonyfield's Play Free initiative, including Grant Park.
  • Baltimore, MD: Baltimore, Maryland City Council passed an ordinance in 2020 restricting the use of toxic pesticides (neonicotinoids, glyphosate, chlorpyrifos) on public and private property—including lawns, playing fields, playgrounds, and children’s facilities.
  • Cuyahoga County, OH has a local ordinance that prohibits the use of pesticides on county-owned land. They also have an Integrated Pest Management program.
  • Encinitas, CA: ​There is a citywide IPM policy in place, chemicals like neonicotinoids and glyphosate were restricted in 2015, and the City implemented an organic pilot program at Glen Park. 
  • Cambridge, MA; Harvard University: Harvard has a fully organic grounds management program.
  • Contra Costa County, CAIntegrated Pest Management for Municipalities, guidance manual to assist Contra Costa municipalities in complying with provision C.9 – Pesticides Toxicity Control in the Municipal Stormwater Permits 
  • Establishing Integrated Pest Management Policies and Programs: A Guide for Public Agencies from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  • Pesticide use is prohibited on the grounds at schools and day care centers in New York State 
  • Davis, CA: Integrated pest management model policy
  • New York State: Pest Management in Outdoor Spaces
  • New York State: Pest Management in Indoor Spaces 
  • Eugene, OR’s Resolution No. 5101 prohibits the City of Eugene from using products that contain neonicotinoids on any City property and calls for all departments within the City of Eugene to adopt an IPM policy and associated operational procedures.