Tom Bird Waterloo January 19, 2006

Hello everyone,

I'm coordinating the second year of a residential pesticide reduction program and would like to make contact with others using a cbsm approach in this area. Any information would be welcome, but I'd be particularly interested in hearing about experiences in the following areas:
- Retailer relationships. I would like to know of arrangements with hardware stores, nurseries, etc. where pesticide reduction information and products were promoted in-store. Has anyone had success with placing campaign staff in stores to engage consumers as a point-of-purchase intervention? The 'Mow Down Pollution' at Home Depot stores in Canada was similar where initiative staff spoke to prospective lawn mower buyers and encouraged the purchase of low emission models.
- Lawn care service branding. We have considered developing and promoting a local standard of lawn care service that meets specified criteria for cultural practices and avoiding pesticide use. The idea being that residents would ask for this standard because of our promotional efforts. Of course we would need to have at least a couple of lawn care services ready to provide the standard. If momentum began to build around the standard, then other companies would be motivated to provide it as well. We are hoping to avoid the ambiguity associated with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), since many companies use this term without actually being certified. Has anyone tried this?
- Evaluation. I would like to hear from anyone with experience in using forms of evaluation other than self-reports. If anyone was successful in obtaining electronic inventory data about pesticide sales, I would be very interested in hearing about it. I would also be happy to share our lessons learned here locally as we have done a significant amount of primary research related to pesticide use and have completed our first season of engaging residents at their homes using a neighbourhood canvassing team.

Thanks,
Tom Bird

Public Health Planner
Region of Waterloo Public Health
Environmental Health and Lifestyle Resources
99 Regina St. S. 3rd floor Waterloo, ON N2J 4V3
519-883-2008 x5181
btom@region.waterloo.on.ca