BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 16, 2024
Pristine lawns can add value to a property, but the chemicals used to kill crabgrass, grubs and other insect pests also can run off into nearby waterways and cause health problems for humans and animals. Hallowell, Portland and Falmouth are among the first in Maine to devise ordinances with more teeth to minimize potential harm from pesticides. About three dozen other municipalities have adopted less sweeping restrictions, according to the regulatory Maine Board of Pesticides Control, with rules ranging from prohibiting the storage of pesticides within aquifer protection zones to whether they can be applied in woodland and shoreland areas.