GREENCAP
The Committee for Alternatives to Pesticides

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

1. What is IPM?

2. IPM Goals

3. Wanted: School IPM Ambassadors

4. Newton's IPM Advisory Committee

1. What is IPM? Integrated Pest Management

• Is a pro-active, common sense, problem-solving approach that reduces pest problems by preventing and correcting conditions that allow pests to thrive.
  
• Emphasizes the most cost-effective use of resources. It is based on good design, good sanitation, and good maintenance to enhance the long-term quality, use, and enjoyment of a building or landscape.
  
• Uses site-specific information on site history and conditions, user activities and maintenance practices to develop and evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of site-management plans.
  
• Avoids exposing people to hazardous products and prevents contamination of property, soil, air and water.
  
• Promotes a sense of stewardship and a shared responsibility for enhancing the safety and quality of school buildings and grounds.
  
• Can help your school become a model of environmental health and pollution prevention and a source of pride to the community.
  

2. Integrated Pest Management Goals

• To protect children from toxic exposures that impact their health, development, learning and behavior.
  
• To encourage and support schools in the transition from pesticide-based pest control to an ecologically-sound prevention and child-safe pest control system.
  
• To establish community partnerships that promote child-safe values and practices.
  
• To create a broad-based long-term commitment to reducing pesticides in all areas of community and municipal life.

3. WANTED: School IPM Ambassadors

Bring the Benefits of Integrated Pest Management to Your School!

Is your child in one of the Newton Public Schools? Be part of the GreenCAP Team. We want to support the schools in their efforts to use IPM policies. We will provide orientation and directions to you. Please sign up to volunteer and make a difference. As an IPM Ambassador, you can:

• Teach the use of brain power and team work instead of toxic chemicals to prevent and control pests such as head lice, mice and cockroaches.
  
• Teach others to spot conditions that invite pests and allow them to thrive such as open dumpsters, leaky faucets and wet trash.
  
• Encourage collaboration among all building users in adopting the good hygiene, sanitation and maintenance practices that protect against pest infestations.
  
• Help schools reap the health, educational and financial benefits of planning and prevention in the operation of school facilities.
  
• Help educate the whole community, including children, about the principles of pollution prevention and sustainable practices that benefit everyone.

4. Newton's IPM Advisory Committee

The IPM Advisory Committee is appointed by the Mayor for the purpose of managing the implementation and application of the City's Integrated Pest Management policy. The Committee meets monthly to coordinate the work of city departments responsible for buildings and grounds as it relates to prevention, detection, management and/or elimination of pests. The Committee also administers a process for approving the use of pesticides as a last resort, including an analysis of alternatives, a review of acceptable products and application requirements, including notification of affected parties, erection of barriers and other steps to avoid exposure.

The Committee is comprised of representatives of the Health Department, Public Buildings Department, Parks and Recreation Department, and the Public Schools Department. Complementing these departments are representatives of community organizations such as the Green Decade Coalition, citywide PTO, youth sports leagues, and a city employees union. The Committee is facilitated by a neutral chair.

Newton's IPM policy was adopted in 1997 as one of the most comprehensive of any city in the nation. It applies to both buildings and grounds and has led to a much more structured and rational approach to pest management. In 2003, the efforts of the public schools were recognized with the IPM Star certification, only the second city in the country to receive it. The IPM Star is granted only after a thorough audit of IPM procedures and results, with grades being awarded for performance along a range of program dimensions.

Newton's experience with IPM has influenced other communities to adopt similar policies and set the stage for Legislative adoption of the Children's and Families' Protection Act of 2001, which requires all schools in the Commonwealth to create IPM plans and procedures.

The city's IPM policy reads as follows: (Click here to find out more about the City's IPM policy).

Find out more about Integrated Pest Management in Newton download the Newton flyer (pdf)

Be a GDC liaison to the IPM Advisory Committee - click on Volunteer Opportunities! The committee usually meets monthly. For more information, e-mail us at info@greendecade.org or contact IPM Advisory Committee Chairperson Doug Dickson at 617-969-8661 or dgdickson@rcn.com.