HoCo Executive To Ban Use Of Certain Pesticides On County Land

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Howard County Executive Calvin Ball intends to pre-file legislation Thursday, Sept. 26, that bans certain pesticides from being used on county property. The goal is to promote public health and protect the environment.

The legislation follows Ball’s announcement that Howard County has become a member of “Bee City USA,” a coalition committed to protecting pollinators.

“In addition to this week’s progress at the United Nations Climate Summit, decisive environmental efforts have to come from every community and every level of government,” said Ball in a statement. “Here in Howard County, we are creating a model of local leadership on climate action and environmental preservation. Widespread pesticide use, combined with the effects of climate change, has threatened the pollinators we depend on to survive. This legislation will decrease pesticide use, protect our ecosystem, and add to the global effort to safeguard our future.”

Insect pollination is responsible for one in three bites of food people eat and 90 percent of all wild plants and trees rely on pollinators for the survival of their species. Pesticide use poses a threat to these pollinator populations such as bees, butterflies, moths and more. Ball’s legislation would ensure that the county does not use any chlorpyrifos and will severely restrict the use of neonicotinoids and glyphosate on any county controlled, managed, or owned buildings and grounds.