Executive Housekeeping Today - November 2008 - (Page 13)

With consumers becoming more and more environmentally conscious, large retailers, commercial buildings, hotels, and other facilities are now embracing Green practices. By implementing Green practices, facilities are striving to put environmentally-responsible practices into place that don’t overrely on chemicals. Those in the pest management industry are applauding this trend toward more responsible chemical use. In fact, the industry trend over the last 20 to 25 years has moved toward practicing integrated pest management (IPM), which is at the heart of Green pest control practices. IPM incorporates Green practices by using non-chemical solutions to eliminate pest problems as the first line of attack and only bringing in pesticides as a last resort. Therefore, pest management professionals prefer Green customers because effective pest management using IPM isn’t obtainable unless the customer practices responsible sanitation, exclusion, and physical and cultural controls on a routine basis. w Green Pest Control Practices by Dr. Jim Sargent to determine the correct control strategies, employs non-chemical prevention and control measures wherever possible, uses the leasttoxic pest management materials when application is necessary, and provides good communication between the client and pest management professional. In IPM, pesticides should not be used first, applied on a routine basis, or used before a need is demonstrated through inspection and monitoring. Pests should only be controlled when: • Their presence is unacceptable for health, safety, and aesthetic reasons. • They are present in intolerable numbers. Examples of non-chemical strategies that should be used first include: • Sanitation: Remove clutter and keep areas clean to remove harborage and food sources. • Exclusion: Use tight-fitting door sweeps, keep window and door screens in good condition, screen vents, and seal holes. • Physical controls: Use traps and put susceptible food products in cool rooms that won’t promote pest infestations. • Cultural controls: Use proper storage and stock rotation. • Change employee practices: For example, have employees keep doors closed. Then if inspection and monitoring demonstrates the need for pesticides, the least toxic material available should be used. agement companies are also following suit. Their written program or policy should spell out their: • Commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and IPM. • Intention to rely on nonchemical strategies over chemical controls. • Plan to apply pesticides only when inspection and monitoring show that they are necessary and only after non-chemical control measures have been used and found inadequate to do the job alone. • Intention to rely on the least toxic materials available. • Action plans for various insect, rodent, and avian pests and situations. • Plan for continuous evaluation and provision for continuing education with the customer. Your commitment to a Green approach needs to be the guiding foundation of your business. As such, it is critical to establish, monitor, and measure Green efforts, and apply resources to aggressively seek alternatives to lessen the negative environmental impact of all activities. What’s Green? W As all industries look towards embracing Green practices, and with many associations establishing Green standards, the challenge for your organization is to determine which shade of Green you want to adhere to. In the IPM arena, Green means an environmentally-responsible pest management approach that helps conserve resources, safeguard health, and protect the environment. This approach identifies pests The Green Commitment Since many businesses are implementing Green into their corporate policies, Green pest man- Dr. Jim Sargent is the Director of Regulatory Compliance and Technical Support for Copesan. Copesan is an alliance of premier pest management companies that are united as a single entity for the sole purpose of providing quality pest solutions to businesses with locations throughout North America. If you have any questions, comments, or would like a personalized evaluation of your pest management program, contact Copesan at (800) 267-3726, or visit our Web site for information on our environmental initiatives and programs specifically designed for hotels and general information on Integrated Pest Management: www.copesan.com. November 2008/Executive Housekeeping Today 3 http://www.copesan.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - November 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - November 2008 Contents Executive Corner The Most Unwelcome Guests Good Housekeeping: Eliminating Pests from the Equation Frugal Housekeeper Director-at-Large Distribution Don’t Just Clean up After Birds—Get Rid of Them! Monday Night is Fly Night Green Pest Control Practices Executive Profile The Green Scene Keeping Hard Floors Clean For the Holidays Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers’ Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - November 2008

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