Green Shield Certified In The News
Maintenance Solutions Magazine
October 2009. "Integrated pest management (IPM) is gaining popularity among grounds managers seeking more sustainable options for traditional methods of protecting buildings, turf and landscapes from pests. IPM programs offer guidance based on information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment, along with available pest-control methods, to manage pest damage more economically, safely, and responsibly.
One organization, the IPM Institute of North America , has developed a certification entitled Green Shield Certified, recognizing institutional and commercial facilities that meet IPM guidelines. A closer look at some of the institute's requirements can offer managers a framework for making the move to IPM..."
Pests: An Integrated Strategy
Clayton County Schools Goes “Peachtree Green”
Effective June 1, 2009 Clayton County Public School, the 5th largest school system in the southeast, will receive “Peachtree Green” services from Norcross-based Peachtree Pest Control. "Peachtree Green” uses advanced IPM techniques such as facility sanitation, pest exclusion, structural modification and a judicious application of less toxic pesticides as a last resort and is the first Green Shield Certified service offered in Georgia. “Peachtree Green” represents the county's continued commitment to the safety and security of all students, teachers and visitors within the public school district.
PESTEC named a 2008 IPM Innovator
January 22, 2009 California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA DPR) names PESTEC, a Green Shield Certified service provider, as a 2008 Integrated Pest Management Innovator. One of four to receive the award, PESTEC was recognized for their educational outreach and development of innovative alternatives to traditional pesticide applications.
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
November 2008 "If someone were to ask you to name an environmentally friendly industry, pest control companies might not be at the top of your list. But, like many industries, pest control professionals are finding that green practices work just as well, if not better, than conventional methods and are good for both their clients and the environment. Now a new certification called Green Shield Certified is available for pest control service providers, making it easier than ever to get a third-party certified, environmentally friendly pest control service..."
For Environmentally Friendly Pest Control, Think Green Shield Certified
CleanLink.com
Fall 2008 "Arrow Exterminating announces that it has become certified in the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)-endorsed Green Shield Certified program... and has launched a green division, Arrow Ever-Green Services, to cater to [the] growing market [for green pest control]... Those commercial clients requesting green pest control include hospitals, school systems, restaurants, offices buildings and nursing homes, in addition to LEED certified green buildings, which need green pest control to comply with new green building standards.
Pesticides are no longer the only way to rid buildings of unwanted pests. Green Shield Certified standards require pest control companies to first employ non-chemical methods to control pest problems. If pesticides are deemed necessary, then only those chemicals that have been screened and approved by Green Shield Certified will be utilized."
Pest Control: Demand For Green Pest Control Rising Among Hospitals, Schools and Restaurants
Associated Press
April 2, 2008 "Amid a new wave of environmentalism, eco-savvy consumers are realizing they no longer need to rely on traditional pesticides, which may pose health risks, to combat rodents and insects.
'Traditional pest control companies run around spraying pesticides,' said Joel Sklar, vice president of sales at Assured Environments, an integrated pest management company in Manhattan. 'We're using glue traps to find out where there are animals and pests ... and we seal holes and areas to prevent them from getting in.'"
Eco-friendly Insect, Rodent Control Products, Services in Demand by Clare Trepasso
National Public Radio
November 15, 2007 "Methods utilized to get rid of pests can be scarier than the actual pests themselves. In San Francisco, however, that's changing. Instead of toxic sprays, one pest control company employs dogs, birth control and other innovative methods to root out pesky critters. For the past 10 years, San Francisco has contracted Pestec to manage its spiders, cockroaches, ants and rats. This year, the company became the first-ever pest control organization to be Green Shield certified by Integrated Pest Management of North America, a nonprofit endorsing environmentally friendly pest control methods."
Day to Day by Nancy Mullane
The Olympian
November 10, 2007 "Add pest-control companies to the list of businesses that have a third-party certification process for environmentally friendly products and pest-control practices. The program is called Green Shield Certified, and Eden Advanced Pest Technologies of Olympia is one of seven pest-control companies nationwide to qualify for the eco-friendly seal of approval."
Olympia Pest Company Certified Eco-friendly by John Dodge
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment
October 2007 "Ants, rats, and cockroaches aren't welcome in any hospital, but the toxic chemicals often used to control them can create health risks for staff and patients and damage the environment. But hospital managers can now get effective pest control and peace of mind by contracting with a Green Shield Certified pest control professional."
Getting the Bugs Out in Stat Green
Portland Press Herald
October 3, 2007 "The pest control business has changed dramatically in the last decade, and St. Amand's company has shed the "man-with-a-can" image. Atlantic Pest Solutions now is more likely to patch up holes in a home to keep mice and bats out, or install a special fan to keep flies out of a restaurant."
"St. Amand's company now has a lab to identify various insects, such as 45 species of mosquitoes. Knowing what species he's dealing with can lead him to their breeding ground. His first weapon of choice is often a trap or a glue board that catches pests, so he can figure out what he's up against and how best to attack it."
Pest Control Businesses Becoming Chem-free by John Richardson
Pest Management Professional Magazine
September 30, 2007 "...this green issue is not something that is going away and is something that is incredibly critical for our industry to get out in front on, so that other people can't define for us what green pest management is. I think that this Green Shield Certified program is something that can help us get to that final definition and can offer you some help in differentiating yourself within your market, as a green company."
The Editor's Word by Frank Andorka
NRDC's OnEarth
Fall 2007 "When he’s not busy rodent-proofing City Hall, deploying a fleet of bike messengers to drop mosquito birth control into storm sewers, and sniffing out bedbugs with the company’s highly trained beagle, Ladybug, [Luis Agurto, Sr.] lectures on integrated pest management, consults for other pest control firms and institutional facilities, and quizzes Luis Jr. on ways to solve hypothetical pest control problems (he’s grooming his elder son to take over the business)."
Who You Gonna Call? by Laura Wright