Is pest control bad for the environment?

In Pests

Pest Control and the Environment

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. The human impact on global warming is a topic that has repeatedly come to the fore of both scientific and social discussion over the past ten years. In 2013 the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produced a report  demonstrating that “human activities are continuing to affect the Earth’s energy budget by changing the emissions and resulting atmospheric concentrations”. The human impact on climate change is undeniable. 

Here at PEST UK we are making a conscious effort to minimise our footprint on the environment. So, how are we doing this?

Products 

At PEST UK the products we use are selected to produce the most effective treatment with the minimal impact on the environment. A clear example is in our use of Rodenticides. The poisons we use to exterminate rodents are predominantly grain-based, rather than meat-based. Meat-based products tend to have a higher environmental impact due to the large carbon footprint exhibited by the livestock industry. 

The downsides to these products is the packaging involved in delivery and the environmental cost of the production. While the Rodenticides we select are less harmful to the environment than others, the packaging they arrive is often non-recyclable. With more and more effort being made to combat global warming, we hope that companies will strive to reduce packaging and use more recyclable materials. 

Similarly, with insecticides, we try and make a conscious effort to purchase substances which through their production, packaging or application will have the least impact on the environment. Unfortunately, the options at this time are limited until manufacturers invest in research for products with lower carbon footprints. 

Home pest control solutions, as well as being less effective, are often more environmentally damaging. Bought individually, rodenticides and insecticides require more packaging for less product, and, applied incorrectly, can be dangerous. 

Transport

As a pest control company covering a vast area in the South of England including West London, transportation is vital to be able to carry out our services. We have tried to reduce our carbon footprint from our vehicles in two ways. Firstly, we employ local technicians. This means less fuel is used for travelling long distances and therefore fewer emissions are released. Secondly, we are beginning to invest in electric vehicles. PESTUK’s current van fleet is 20% electric and growing. We aim to increase this figure by 2030 in line with the phasing out of diesel and petrol vehicles in the UK.

The impact on pests 

What’s the future for the pest population? The changing climate will likely see the extinction and also the migration of many pests. Global warming could mean that pest control companies will have to adapt to deal with pests not previously known to the UK. Some of the pests may be harmful to humans. In the future, we can expect more pests, resistance to insecticides and increased survival rates of pests in the winter months due to global warming. 

At PEST UK we pride ourselves on our commitment for the future. In a world that is ever-changing, we provide the latest up-to-date training to our technicians and our office staff. This means we can readily adapt to the changing pest population. We are always looking for new ways to improve our service and being environmentally conscious is one of our fundamental goals.

PESTUK

PESTUK are full members of the BPCA, the governing body for pest control in the UK. Using a BPCA member company ensures you have a qualified, fully insured company treating your pest problem.

Call us on 0330 100 2811 or email us at services@pestuk.com for free local pest control advice or to book an appointment for pest control services near you.

PESTUK also have offices in Bracknell, Edgware, Salisbury, St Albans, Stevenage, Swindon, Thame, Wantage, Ware, and Watford.

For an updated price list for all of our services please click here.