Lansing, Mich.-The new Michigan law banning phosphorus in lawn fertilizer that passed the legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Jennifer Granholm last month took effect Jan. 1, but according to some sources it has its limitations. While the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Assn. supported the measure, its executive director said the fact that the legislature left in place a patchwork system of local ordinances is disappointing. “It’s been a long time in the making, but as far as the industry goes we are for a reduction in phosphorus,” Ann Frankmann told Green Markets. “We had no problem with that. But the problem with what was passed is that it did not exempt the patchwork system of municipal laws. We had asked for preemption of local ordinances, and the result is going to be confusion.” Frankmann said some municipalities charge a fee for applying phosphorus, which is paid by the professional applicator as part of the license. In addition, the legislation leaves it up to townships to find the resources for educational and training programs necessary to inform residents. Michigan joins other Great Lakes states, including Minnesota, New York, Wisconsin, and Illinois, in restricting phosphorus fertilizer, and also put a ban on its use in dishwasher detergent effective last July.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain