A new Herbicide Free Weed Management Work Programme was approved at last week’s Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee meeting which will allow for a systematic ward by ward approach to managing the growth of unwanted vegetation like weeds across the city.
This new work programme follows the decision to discontinue the use of herbicides across all council owned sites, including parks, car parks and housing areas in March 2024.
This next step to approve the programme highlights the council’s continued commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection.
Instead of herbicides, mechanical sweepers and hand tools, such as hoes and brushes will be used. These tools are better for the environment, and better for the health of residents and council officers than standard herbicides.
The work programme includes:
- Intensive initial efforts to address the backlog of weed growth following the phase-out of herbicides
- Regular, scheduled cleaning to prevent excessive weed build-up
- Use of mechanical sweepers and weed ripper brushes to maintain streets and pavements
- Collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council to manage Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders for safe operations in high-traffic areas
- Ongoing monitoring and adjustments to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Residents are encouraged to report weeds and unwanted vegetation growth so that it can be addressed by the council.
The council will continue to work with Pesticide-Free Cambridge and On the Verge, who have supported the council in going herbicide free. There has also been collaboration to provide training and guidance to local schools about how they can reduce their usage of herbicides in order to support more biodiversity friendly educational settings.
The council will also be focusing its efforts on engaging residents in the programme and educating them on the impacts that herbicide usage can have on the environment and on themselves.
The herbicide-free approach can have significant benefits, including:
- Biodiversity protection, supporting pollinators such as bees and butterflies
- Improved soil and water quality, preventing chemical runoff into local waterways
- Health and safety improvements, reducing public exposure to chemical herbicides.
