Dublin City Council’s operational policy with regards to herbicide use, is to eliminate the use of
herbicides by implementing alternative control methods, or where appropriate, allowing weeds
to grow.
Dublin City Council is to develop a written corporate policy, subject to the approval of the City
Council, to prohibit the use of glyphosate/herbicide in all City Council operations (including by
contractors), save for control of invasive species. This will be a documented future commitment
to the current no- herbicide practice.
In order to meet Dublin City Council CCAP targets for 2030 the reduction in carbon emissions
achieved by the non-use of chemical sprays will need to be formalised in a policy. This should
clearly state that Dublin City Council and its approved contractors no longer use herbicides in
particular, and Biocides in general, except in circumstances where invasive plant species are
being treated.
That Dublin City council adheres to is obligations signed up to with the National Biodiversity
Plan. Ireland’s Vision for Biodiversity is: “That biodiversity and ecosystems in Ireland are
conserved and restored, delivering benefits essential for all sectors of society and that Ireland
contributes to efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystems in the EU
and globally.” Weedkiller (herbicide) impacts wild plants and in turn, affects pollinators
(including bees) who cannot distinguish between sprayed and unsprayed plant.
