Dover resident Diana Carpinone is asking the city to switch its chemical fertilizer and pesticide treatments to organic methods. She’s started a petition and has been lobbying city councilors and city staff about the issue.
“If there’s an alternative, we should be using it,” she says.
Carpinone says the lawn treatments contain neonicotinoids, an insecticide that has been linked to colony collapse disorder in bee populations. The European Union voted earlier this year to restrict the use of the chemical for two years. Chemical fertilizers also contain nitrogen, and fertilizers have been identified as a source of nitrogen pollution in local watersheds, including Great Bay.
She started the petition in August. So far, it’s gotten 657 signatures.
“Even if it does cost more, who cares? Are you going to put a price on environmental health or public health?” she says. “I’m just trying to get the message out to people and get them to see how important this is and to change their mind.”
City manager J. Michael Joyal says the city is “researching alternative turf management treatments and will put out a request for proposals” this winter.
—Larry Clow
