property maintenance

A free service offered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service, and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board will dispose of harmful pesticides at no cost to residents and businesses in their southside service area, according to a recent article in the Progress-Index.

The program assists agricultural producers, licensed pesticide dealers and pest control firms, golf courses and homeowners with the proper disposal of unwanted pesticides. The program is available at no cost to eligible participants. 

To administer the Pesticide Disposal Program, Virginia is subdivided into 5 regions. A pesticide disposal program is conducted annually in localities within each of the regions. Once all 5 regions have been served, the program will start another cycle. The Southside region is being serviced by the program for the remainder of 2009.

Participants should complete a pesticide disposal registration form ahead of time and return the completed form to VDACS, PO Box 1163, Richmond VA 23218. The form is available online, or by contacting Pesticide Disposal Program at (804) 786-3798.

"The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pesticide Control Board invite farmers, pesticide dealers, pest control firms, homeowners and golf courses to participate in the 2009 pesticide disposal program, which collects unwanted, outdated, or banned pesticides and disposes of them in a safe manner. VDACS, through its Office of Pesticide Services, provides this service at no cost to participants in the designated localities.

The program is funded through pesticide product registration fees collected by OPS.

Since its inception, Virginia's Pesticide Disposal Program has collected and destroyed nearly 1.5 million pounds of outdated and unwanted pesticides, completely eliminating the environmental threat they could have posed."

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The Daily Press recently reported on the increase in high grass and weed violations in Newport News. In addition to the high number of foreclosures being to blame for the drastic increase in high grass and weed code violations, a recent state law change has made it eaiser for loclialities to crack down on property owners neglecting to maintain their yards. Now cities only have to give violators notice one time during the growing season before taking action - which is charging a fee to have inmates from the minimum security facility City Farm cut the grass.

"The number of high grass and weed code violations in Hampton has increased by 60 percent from 853 during the first six months in 2008 to 1,375 during the same period this year. Not only are the numbers of violations up in Hampton, in Newport News these kinds of offenses have suddenly spread like weeds throughout the entire 20-mile stretch of the city. High grass used to be a problem isolated at the southern end of Newport News."

The Daily Press also reviewed the law concering high grass and weeds:

• If grass is taller than 10 inches, it's a city code violations.
• Property owner has five days to remedy the problem.
• The city has to give only one notice during growing season
• City will automatically place a lien on to the property for the cost to cut the grass.

To report tall grass in Newport News:
• Call the high grass and weed complaint line at 926-7474 or fill out online form.

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