Use of pesticides by the Dutch government, 1986-2001

		1986	1992	1995	2001	Reduction
						compared to 1986

		kg active ingredient				%
Total use		126 975	70 660	50 372	42 144	67
including
	urban vegetation	36 268	19 075	11 074	10 222	72
	sports fields	7 546	5 548	4 896	4 164	45
	surfacing work	29 363	27 189	26 651	20 510	30
	railways	20 850	11 135	4 898	6 040	71
	water courses	16 833	3 761	557	-	100

Materials used
including
	amitrole	13 308	8 520	1 994	356	97
	dalapon	25 731	7 476	581	-	100
	dichlobenil	17 077	10 085	6 222	8 317	51
	diuron	7 920	22 971	13 029	13	100
	glyphosate	3 726	4 892	15 686	22 513	-504
	MCPA	4 046	2 975	4 190	5 371	-33
	simazine	24 091	4 193	1 203	33	100

Source: CBS.					CBS/ EDC/Oct02

Trends in use of pesticides by the government

A multi-year plan has been established for the Public Green Spaces sector, as well as for agriculture and horticulture, in order to reduce use. The target reduction of 43% by 2000 compared to the period 1984-1988 has been easily achieved.
There are considerable variations in the trends for use depending on the sub-sector (explanation) and the active ingredient.

Urban vegetation

The fall in use is caused here by changes in thinking by the municipal authorities involved, the redevelopment of the green space and the more widespread application of alternatives such as ground cover and manual hoeing.

Sports fields

Some of the fall in the use is deceptive. In more and more municipalities, the sports fields are in private hands, with management and maintenance being the responsibility of the sports associations themselves.

Surfacing work

Use for this application hardly fell at all in the period from well before 1986 to approximately 1995, with the lack of affordable non-chemical alternatives being the main reason. Ethical and road safety considerations also played a role, as did the need for rainwater drainage via gutters in the road. However, in recent years, more and more use is being made of mechanical and thermal alternatives.

Railways

The fall in use here is mainly the result of major changes in thinking at the rail infrastructure organisation, Rail-Infrabeheer. The aim is a drastic reduction in the frequency of work on the ballast bed. In addition, there has been a switch to other substances.

Water courses

Prior to 1986, the water boards had already made major efforts to reduce use. The ban on the last available substance, dalapon, in 2000 put an end to the use of pesticides for this application.

Developments in substances used

The changes in the quantities of substances used are caused by bans on the use of substances, switches to less environmentally-harmful substances and manual, mechanical or thermal methods.

Relevance

The run-off of pesticides from surfacing work is the main reason why these substances enter the surface water. This meant that, in the early nineties, the intake of surface water for drinking-water purposes had to be temporarily suspended a few times because high concentrations had been found, mainly of diuron.

Technical note

The figures come from surveys conducted by Statistics Netherlands. The surveys covered the Directorate General for Public Works and Water Management, the Ministry of Defence, the rail infrastructure organisation Rail-Infrabeheer, provincial authorities, water boards and municipal authorities. Weed killers accounted for almost all use. However, this is only some of the use in the application sectors described. For example, use on company premises, by individuals and sports associations has not been included.

References

CBS (2002). Statline. Chemische bestrijding door de overheid.CBS, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

More information about the use of pesticides by the government can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).