Hauppauge, N.Y.-Suffolk County is taking aim at fertilizer runoff with a multi-pronged approach, including prohibiting application during cold weather and requiring training for licensed landscapers, according to County Executive Steve Levy. Levy’s proposal also spells out steps to stop using nitrogen-based fertilizer on most county properties; codifies the county’s organic maintenance plan, which will minimize the use of fertilizers for parks, golf courses, and the Suffolk County Farm; and expands existing consumer education programs at the retail level with signs and brochures. “This is an opportunity for Suffolk County to lead by example,” said Levy. “We can have green parks and lavish lawns without sacrificing the health of our groundwater.” Landscapers would be required to take a turf management course that teaches the proper use and application of fertilizers and methods to minimize nitrogen leaching. An estimated 1,200 landscapers are licensed in the county. Retail establishments would be required to post signs to advise consumers about the risks of nitrogen-based fertilizers and assist them in choosing fertilizers that pose the least harm to the environment. Retailers would make brochures available about the proper use and application of fertilizer products. According to Levy, the plan could reduce the amount of nitrogen leached into groundwater and surface waters from residential use by at least 25 percent, or 60 tons annually.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain