West Vancouver council has voted to approve a change to its municipal pesticide bylaw to allow qualified technicians to spray herbicides like glyphosate, known commercially as Roundup, on to invasive knotweed plants.
Previously, the bylaw only allowed the herbicides to be applied by injection into the stem of the plant. Staff told council members in some cases that is not possible and there are no other effective methods to control knotweed, which can damage cement foundations.
The change allows qualified individuals to spray leaves of the plant with herbicides on public land.
Coun. Bill Soprovich spoke against the change, saying he was troubled by the idea of “introducing pesticides back into this community.”
Coun. Nora Gambioli stressed it will still be against regulations for an individual property owner to buy Roundup and start spraying it in West Vancouver.
Council voted to approve the change, with Soprovich opposed.
