Marin’s “Think Before You Spray” campaign is a community-driven project to raise awareness about the use of toxic pest control products around homes and businesses.
After glyphosate (the active ingredient in RoundUp) was labeled as a probable human carcinogen, the County met with concerned residents in fall 2016 to discuss ways to phase out toxins used to eradicate invasive plants and other pests. The County has all but halted its use of pesticides in our parks and open spaces, so “Think Before You Spray” is directed at residents and business owners who buy retail products.
The campaign, which started in spring 2017, included local events, social media, newspaper and bus shelter ads, and a website (www.yardsmartmarin.org). The educational effort continues in 2018 with a focus on the impacts of insecticides and rodenticides.
Statistics
Agriculture, Weights and Measures
- Percentage of commercial weighing and measuring devices found in compliance: 96%
- % of Retail Motor Fuel Meters [Gas Pumps] inspected found to be accurate: 96% (759 inspected)
- Counter and Computing Scales: 94% Accurate (426 inspected)
- Total Devices Inspected: 2,736
- Agriculture Inspections: 1,892
- Number of operations in Marin Organic Certified Agriculture program: 52
- Number of retail businesses inspected to verify with compliance with advertised or posted pricing: 224
Marin County Parks
- Number of total parks, open space preserves and pathways: 82
- Number of Park passes issued: 725
- Number of Open Space Acres maintained: 15,262
- Number of parks acres maintained: 2,100
- Number of volunteer hours worked in Parks and Open Space: 20,025
Farm Advisor
- Number of community garden gardeners: 1,450
- Annual amount of water usage reduced after education: 11 millions of gallons.
- Number of new local agricultural points of sales (farm stands, farmers markets) accepting CalFresh: 2
- Number of youth reached via Equity in Youth Development Program: 1,395 (across 15 schools and youth programs)