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MARSHFIELD TO CONSIDER FERTILIZER BAN
Monday, June 23rd, 2008 -- 2:47 pm
Posted by Riley Hebert-News Director
The Marshfield City Council will consider a ban on phosphorus fertilizers tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
"Typically, there's enough phosphorus in the soil that there doesn't need to be additional phosphorus added in," explains Marty Anderson, chairman of the Sustainable Marshfield Committee, "What happens with the additional phosphorus is that it runs off into local waterways."
And that causes algae blooms, fish kills and health problems.
Part of the solution, according to Anderson's committee, is a ban on the use phosphorus-containing fertilizers in the city limits and a strict regulation of the sale of such products.
The idea is not a new one. "Most notable is the entire county of Dane is a phosphorus-free zone. The state of Minnesota is completely phosphorus-free," Anderson notes.
The ordinance does include some exemptions for newly established lawns, lawns where soil tests determine there's a need for phosphorus and garden applications.
But, it bans retailers from displaying phosphorus-containing products, such as typical "weed and feed" products.
"Most fertilizers today do contain phosphorus. When Minnesota implemented this, the retailers saw no detrimental impact to their sales and residents didn't see any detrimental impact on the price of fertilizer."
The proposed ordinance will get a 1st reading tomorrow night. That will open public comment period, which will include a public hearing on July 8.
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