Limiting Toxins
in Your Landscape

Use low-VOC or no-VOC materials

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) refer to a large number of mostly petrochemical-derived substances that readily become a gas at room temperature. VOCs can be bad for the environment and have been linked to a variety of negative health effects, including dizziness, irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, damage to the nervous system, and cancer. When used outdoors, VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is the primary component of smog.

Among the hundreds of VOCs found in consumer products are formaldehyde, benzenes, toluene, styrene, xylenes, and chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and methylene chloride. Landscape products that contain VOCs include primers, paints, stains, sealants, and other finishes as well as paint strippers, adhesives, caulks, and pesticides.

Most companies now produce effective and cost-competitive alternatives such as less-toxic paints, stains and varnishes that use water instead of petroleum-based solvents and reduce emissions.

Check product labels and literature for information on VOC content. Usually listed in grams per liter, it can range from 5 to 200. Using a product with the lowest VOC content will yield the lowest overall environmental and health risk. Paints that meet the Green Seal standard are certified lower than 50 grams per liter for flat finish or 100 grams per liter for non-flat finish.

Limit the use of toxic pesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that homeowners apply pesticides at a rate as much as 20 times higher than what farmers use on agricultural land. Not only do pesticides endanger health, they pollute our water supply. 

Integrated pest management is just one technique for growing a productive lawn and garden without harmful chemicals.

Avoid using PVC

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) releases dioxin, a known carcinogen, during its manufacturing and disposal phases. PVC is commonly used in products such as plastic fencing, irrigation pipe, decking, and garden hoses. It cannot be recycled and has a relatively short life span.

Homeowners should consider alternatives to PVC such as HDPE (high-density polyethylene) piping or wooden decking or fencing. PVC products can give off gas chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Avoid chemically treated wood

When possible, choose locally sourced, naturally rot-resistant wood for a safer, eco-friendly option.

Wood sold before 2003 may contain chromated copper arsenate, which can cause arsenic poisoning. Even arsenic-free treatments used to make wood rot-resistant carry health risks and can pollute water.