• Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) – One of the most commonly used pesticides in the US, CHLORPYRIFOS IS BEING PHASED OUT FOR ITS HOME AND LAWN USES. This is good news for wildlife.  This pesticide has been implicated in over 200 wildlife incidents documented in the EPA’s Ecological Incident Information System (EIIS) database.  Aquatic organisms like fish and crayfish, birds (including Red-tailed Hawks, American Robins and Boat-tailed Grackles) and important pollinators such as bees have all been poisoned by this pesticide.  If you are purchasing any new pesticide products, take a look at the active ingredients and avoid buying product using Chlorpyrifos (under the agreement companies are allowed to sell their stock of products for these uses until 12/31/2000). 

 
• Diazinon Reregistration -Diazinon is another pesticide commonly employed around the home; over 6 million pounds of it are used in the US each year.  Diazinon is highly toxic to birds, mammals, beneficial insects, and aquatic and marine organisms.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service in its comments on the re-registration of diazinon stated “the Service is extremely concerned about the continued exposure and effects of diazinon on birds.  Bird kills have been documented and associated with legal use according to label application rates.”  In other words, DIAZINON KILLS BIRDS WHEN USED AS DIRECTED.  PLEASE CONSIDER THE EXTREME TOXICITY OF DIAZINON TO BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE BEFORE USING IT AROUND THE HOME OR ON YOUR LAWN.  Most importantly, make sure the pests you think you are treating for (like turf grubs) are actually present (See previous section on detecting pests). More environmentally friendly alternatives to diazinon include milky spore disease (for Japanese Beetle grubs), commercially available nematodes (worms that infect grubs), or less toxic pesticides like Imidacloprid (Merit) or halfenozide (Grub-B-Gone). 

To find out when the EPA’s final recommendations on the reregistration of Diazinon will be available for public comment please check the BirdCast site, or the Office of Pesticide Programs site. 

• Home Hazardous Waste Disposal - If you wish to dispose of the products you own which contain Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, or any hazardous waste for that matter, check and see when your local municipality is holding a “Household Hazardous Waste Drop Off.” Call your county agent or planning commission to see if your region offers this service. A wide assortment of information about the safe disposal and management of household waste is available on the Internet at the following sites:

EPA Office of Solid Waste Home Page
Household Waste Information
Household Hazardous Waste Information

Copies of publications can be ordered from the RCRA hotline by calling 1-800-553-7672. In Washington, D.C., call 703-412-9810, or TDD 703-412-3323.

• Systemic Pesticides – Systemic pesticides are designed to be taken up by the plant and incorporated into its tissues.  Some of these, such as such as Dimethoate, may be incorporated into berries and can poison the birds which consume them in the fall and winter. DO NOT USE SYSTEMICS ON TREES AND SHRUBS THAT PRODUCE BERRIES.  Rely on alternatives like insecticidal soaps and superior oils.