West Milford, N.J.-The West Milford Town Council thinks the path to less phosphate getting into the area waterways leads to the fertilizer applicators. That’s why licenses to apply any fertilizer are being required of applicators, and spreading of phosphate is being banned with some exceptions. According to a town notice, copies of the ordinance and license applications have been mailed to area landscapers, who were put on notice that any business found to be operating without a license will be subject to penalties including a fine up to $2,000. Ken Hawkswell, the town’s health director, told Green Markets the ordinance was recommended by the environmental commission. “It’s difficult to regulate homeowners,” Hawkswell said. “So we are regulating commercial fertilizer applicators (and) it’s too early to evaluate any benefits.”
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain