Long Island Pesticide Pollution

Suffolk County, New York uses more pesticides than any other county in the state. This has led to concerns about the environment and groundwater quality. 

Pesticide use in Suffolk County    

• Pesticide use on county properties 

  Suffolk County banned pesticide use on county-owned properties in 2003, with some exemptions. 

• Pesticide monitoring 

  The NYSDEC, Suffolk County Department of Health Services, and other organizations monitor groundwater for pesticides. 

• Fertilizer laws 

  Suffolk County has fertilizer laws to limit nitrogen runoff from fertilizer into waterbodies. 

 Pesticide use restrictions     

• The "Birds and Bees Protection Act" prohibits the use of certain pesticides on ornamental plants and turf. 

• The Neighbor Notification Law requires prior notice for some commercial pesticide applications, but there are exemptions. 

 Alternatives to pesticides   

• You can avoid pesticides by using organic lawn care methods. 

• You can accept diversity in your lawn plants. 

 Resources   

• You can visit the Suffolk County website for more information about pesticide regulations. 

• You can visit the NYSDEC website for more information about pesticide use.