Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a proven method of pest control that emphasizes simple, inexpensive prevention practices that cause the least harm to people and the environment. IPM focuses on eliminating the cause of pests by minimizing access to food, water, and hiding places.
SPCP offers downloadable factsheets covering many areas of safer pest control.
Test your IPM IQ with SPCP's online quiz.
Safer Pest Control Project
is dedicated to reducing the health risks and environmental impacts of pesticides and promoting safer alternatives in Illinois.
Natural Lawn Care Arrives in Indiana this Spring
This spring Safer Pest Control Project, with its Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant partners, will be offering two Natural Lawn Care Workshops in Indiana. We are offering a full-day NLC Workshop for Professionals and Municipalson March 21 in Gary, IN and a half-day NLC Workshop for Schools and Childcareson March 22 in Highland, IN. The workshops will feature nationally-recognized organic turf expert Chip Osborne and local speakers. For more information about these workshops, please visit our training page. Registration is live for the full-day workshop and the half-day workshop.
B.I.T.E. Back! newsletter Vol. 8 * Winter 2012
Bed Bug Information That Empowers
Volume 8 of our B.I.T.E. Back! newsletter available for download.
Rachel Rosenberg, Executive Director, featured in Chicago Tribune about Natural Lawn Care Trend
The front page of the Saturday, June 11th edition Chicago Tribune featured Executive Director, Rachel Rosenberg, discussing Natural Lawn Care as a trend. We hope that you can use the resources on our website to help you make a change to natural lawn care and encourage your city and park district to reduce their pesticide use.
Pesticide Registration Doesn’t Mean ‘Safe’
USEPA Bans Most Toxic Rat and Mouse Poisons
Safer Pest Control Project’s consistent message has always been that just because something is available to the average consumer for use doesn’t mean that it’s safe.Think about all the products that have been recalled over the years.Now the U.S. EPA is banning the most dangerous and toxic rat and mouse poisons for sale to residential consumers including most loose bait and pellet products.
“These changes are essential to reduce the thousands of accidental exposures of children that occur every year from rat and mouse control products and also to protect household pets,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Today’s action will help keep our children and pets safe from these poisons.”
Watch Executive Director, Rachel Rosenberg, on WTTW's Chicago Tonight and Listen to Podcast on WGN Radio
Dandelions are popping up around Chicago, especially in Chicago's parks. Rachel explains how dandelions are a sign that pesticides are not being used on a lawn, meaning it is safer for children and pets. Watch the news story. Also listen to her interview on WGN Radio with Mike McConnell (interview starts at 15:45 in podcast).
Not a fan of dandelions in your yard? A lawn maintained with natural lawn care has fewer weed issues and is a healthier lawn overall. Natural lawn care is not the same as no lawn care. Learn more about natural lawn care through our fact sheets.
Spray Drift Education Network
Has your garden been affected by a neighbor's use of pesticides?
educate people about the issue of chemical and pesticide drift and help them respond appropriately when chemical drift occurs.
The website (spraydriftillinois.com) has complete information on how to file a claim, an important first step in bringing this problem to the Department of Agriculture's attention.
Though most people might think pesticide drift is primarily a problem in rural Illinois, half of the current complaints regarding the misuse of pesticides (primarily lawn care pesticides) are generated in urban areas according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture. So, for all of you citizens out there, report, report, report and we can get some better laws into place to protect us from involuntary pesticide exposure.
Pesticide Free Zone
Do you have your Pesticide Free Zone sign?
Let everyone know that your yard is pesticide free and pet and child friendly by posting a pesticide free zone sign. You can post these signs at schools, parks, and businesses. Click here to purchase online, or use our order form.
First municipal resolution in State to reduce pesticides on public property
On April 26th, the Evanston City Council passed the state's first municipal resolution creating a sustainable pest control and pesticide reduction policy. The policy requires city agencies and contractors to use sustainable pest control practices - both indoors and outdoors - and bans the most potentially hazardous pesticides from use on city property.
Research has demonstrated that practices such as Integrated Pest Management and Natural Lawn Care can reduce both pest populations and pesticides by eliminating pest friendly conditions first. This approach has also been shown to save money as well.
SPCP was instrumental in authoring the policy, and has been working with city staff and the Environment Board for nearly two years on this initiative. The city is also hosting a natural lawn care demonstration site at Stockham Park. For more details read the latest press here and here.
Presenting Ms. Lady Bugga
This light hearted video about a serious subject was recorded at our Ladybug Bash in October 2010. This song is our fanciful attempt to deliver the message of Integrated Pest Management for bed bug control.
On April 26th, the Evanston City Council passed the state's first municipal resolution creating a sustainable pest control and pesticide reduction policy. The policy requires city agencies and contractors to use sustainable pest control practices - both indoors and outdoors - and bans the most potentially hazardous pesticides from use on city property. 
