2021 Feb: Recycler Suez says herbicides in contaminated compost came from Melbourne council water. Pesticides: Dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPA, Triclopyr, Picloram

Recycler Suez says herbicides in contaminated compost came from Melbourne council waste

21/2/21

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/suez-herbicides-contaminated-compost-melbourne-council/13175200

Recycling giant Suez says the powerful herbicides that contaminated a batch of compost produced at its Melbourne facility late last year, killing hundreds of home vegetable gardens, came from council green waste.

"Feedstock obtained from municipal sources contained traces of the agricultural herbicides dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPA, triclopyr and picloram," a Suez spokesperson told the ABC.

"These are herbicides that would not normally be expected to be found and are therefore not ones for which testing is required.

"We continue to work at determining their source."

Chris Williams, who lectures in Urban Horticulture at Melbourne University, said he was shocked to find out the herbicides came from a council.

"I really thought this is the worst-case scenario," Dr Williams said.

"I was hoping we were dealing with manure. That would have been relatively easy to regulate.

"But if we're getting residual herbicide in municipal green waste, that's a lot more complex.

Recycler Suez says herbicides in contaminated compost came from Melbourne council waste

21/2/21

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/suez-herbicides-contaminated-compost-melbourne-council/13175200

Recycling giant Suez says the powerful herbicides that contaminated a batch of compost produced at its Melbourne facility late last year, killing hundreds of home vegetable gardens, came from council green waste.

“Feedstock obtained from municipal sources contained traces of the agricultural herbicides dicamba, 2,4-D, MCPA, triclopyr and picloram,” a Suez spokesperson told the ABC.

“These are herbicides that would not normally be expected to be found and are therefore not ones for which testing is required.

“We continue to work at determining their source.”

Chris Williams, who lectures in Urban Horticulture at Melbourne University, said he was shocked to find out the herbicides came from a council.

“I really thought this is the worst-case scenario,” Dr Williams said.

“I was hoping we were dealing with manure. That would have been relatively easy to regulate.

“But if we’re getting residual herbicide in municipal green waste, that’s a lot more complex.