Judie Steeves - Kelowna Capital News Published: February 26, 2010 11:00 PM
You have a little over two weeks if you want to be notified of any commercial applications of pesticides in your neighbourhood in the coming season. To be notified you must register each spring with the City of Kelowna, even if you were registered under the city’s Commercial Pesticide Notification Registry last year. The registry was brought in seven years ago, and most years 250 to 300 people register to be notified of commercial spraying on abutting residential properties. It does not cover pesticide application on agricultural properties. When registering, you must provide your name, street address, postal code, phone number, e-mail address, preference for same-day or previous-day notification and reasons for registering. Last year, the city also brought in a cosmetic pesticide ban, restricting the use of non-essential pesticides by homeowners on residential properties.
Provincially-certified pesticide applicators can apply to be exempt from the bylaw. “Certified applicants, who are properly trained on pesticide usage and healthier alternatives, can still apply chemical pesticides,” says marketing and communications coordinator Summer Bracey. “So we want to make sure residents have the option of knowing when spaying in their area is taking place. This is a valuable service for those who want to minimize their exposure to pesticides.”
Register online at Kelowna.ca/environment or call the pesticide hotline at 469-8556; or fax 862-3314; or e-mail enviro@kelowna.ca
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