May 28th, 2009

Green Pest Control: Not an Oxymoron

Posted by Jessica Jensen

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This is a guest post contributed by Colin Hickey, BCE, of Green Planet Pest Control, serving all of Massachusetts

In an industry notorious for environmental health neglect, some companies have recognized that providing a green service for pest control can be achieved without sacrificing effectiveness. Reducing impact in pest control relies on changing several practices. GPS and smart mapping software allow a company to consolidate its daily driving to minimizegas and emissions. Incorporating non-chemical control measures into a treatment protocol reduces the amount of chemical pesticide applied. Using least-impact, low-toxicity products and confining treatment to pest harborages will considerably reduce the hazard of using chemical pesticides. While effective pest control can be achieved solely by non-chemical means in some instances, there will always be a need for professional pest control services. You can find an eco-friendly pest control service near you here.

Green control services rely on a course of action that integrates different available techniques to target the source of the infestation and achieve lasting and sustainable control. Identifying the specific pest, knowing its behavior and directing control efforts where they will be most effective is the basis for an educated pest control program. While chemical pesticides can sometimes be applied to temporarily mitigate a pest invasion, in most instances the source of the infestation can be linked to a particular condition or several existing conditions that are promoting pest activity. Sometimes educating a customer about different pest species can be the most important step in controlling (or not controlling them) them. All organisms need the availability of food, water and harborage to thrive. Non-chemical control measures deny these requirements and force pests from harborages. For instance, water is a strong attraction for many pests; therefore, fixing a water leak would send all pests depending on that leak elsewhere.

Many low-impact pesticides have been marketed for pest control. Usually any product designed to kill bugs will do so when treating point-blank but I would suggest to anyone interested in controlling their own pests to consider educating themselves before they apply any product for control. You can find out about natural pest-control alternatives here, such as soaps and oils and other natural products most of us have in our homes.  It is important to note that there is no effective product that has zero impact and many products that are sold over-the-counter can have harmful effects if not correctly used.

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