For Release: Monday, June 7, 2010
DEC Initiative Boosts Truly "Green" Lawns
"Be Green" Will Help Landscapers, Consumers Tap into Organic Yard Care
Having a truly "green" lawn will get easier with the help of the new "Be Green Organic Yards NY" initiative announced today by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis.
DEC's new "Be Green" program will promote training and licensing of organic yard care providers. Homeowners will be able to find lawn care companies to provide organic yard management by looking for the Be Green logo (attached). DEC will work with:
- Qualified trainers to offer courses in Be Green organic yard care.
- Lawn-care services and landscapers to enroll and be tested for their knowledge of organic practices.
- Eligible landscapers and course providers to enter into license agreements with DEC to use the special Be Green logo in advertising organic services.
Consumers will be able to search a list of local Be Green qualified yard care and landscaping companies on DEC's website. Consumers will have assurance that a licensed Be Green service provider will not engage in practices or use products that are considered by DEC to be inconsistent with organic yard care.
"Demand for all types of organic services is on the rise as people continue to be concerned about the amounts and types of chemicals used in everyday tasks. At the same time, consumers are sometimes unsure what 'green' means," Commissioner Grannis said. "With the new 'Be Green' initiative, the state will provide a way for specifically trained yard care companies to use the special logo when they offer organic yard management. The initiative will connect consumers with names of qualified companies. The goal of 'Be Green' is to help create an organically managed environment for people, pets, wildlife and plants."
Lawns and gardens maintained by repeated applications of synthetic fertilizers and conventional pesticides can expose people, pets and the environment to chemicals - especially when they are applied incorrectly. In contrast, successful organic landscaping can range from a simple regimen of planting and pruning to a big-picture approach that looks at all aspects of yard care, including plant selection and soil structure. The key is preventing pest problems before they occur and building a sustainable lawn environment. Consumers can choose an organic approach as a way of reducing the risk of exposure to conventional pesticides and their potential hazards.
In the first phase of the initiative, DEC will encourage organizations that provide organic yard management training to participate in the new program by offering courses to companies interested in becoming Be Green businesses. To be eligible to use the special logo for the new program, companies must have staff trained in Be Green organic practices. Once a business is trained, it can apply to enter a Be Green license agreement that will include basic conditions for organic yard care - including avoiding the synthetic pesticides and other materials prohibited under the program. More information about Be Green Organic Yards NY can be found on DEC's website.
When the program is fully up and running, consumers will be able to search DEC's website for "Be Green" companies in their area. DEC expects to have listings available by fall.
