Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection Reminds Residents That County Pesticide Law Is in Effect

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Spring has arrived and many residents and homeowners’ associations are working at having greener lawns. Montgomery County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) encourages enthusiastic lawn care, but also wants to send the reminder that the County’s pesticides law is in effect.

The pesticide law, which was approved by the County Council in 2015 and upheld by a ruling of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in May 2019, restricts the use of certain pesticides and herbicides on private lawns, playgrounds, mulched recreation areas and private childcare facilities. DEP sent a mailer with provisions of the pesticides law to all County homeowners in April.

The County’s pesticide law aims to protect families, pets and the environment from the harmful effects of synthetic chemicals in the air, water and soil.

Homeowners, property managers and landscapers should familiarize themselves with the requirements of the law. The law affects property owners and professional landscapers equally, so contracts for lawn care should only have provisions that include the use of organic pesticides or herbicides.

If homeowners are still in possession of pesticides that are now banned, they are asked to hold onto them until Covid-19 related restrictions have been lifted; after such time they may safely dispose of those pesticides at the household hazardous waste collection site of the Shady Grove Transfer Station in Derwood.

The DEP website has additional information on the law, plus options on how to improve lawns using organic methods. The site is available at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/lawns/law/.

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Release ID: 20-239
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915