advertisement

Mundelein considering a ban on phosphorous fertilizers

Mundelein officials are considering enacting a ban of fertilizers containing phosphorus.

It would become the latest town to take such action, joining Libertyville, Lindenhurst, Antioch and many other suburbs.

Phosphorous has been removed from many fertilizers but not all of them.

Phosphorus helps grass germinate and grow. But excess phosphorus can be washed from a lawn by rainwater or sprinklers and seep into lakes, streams and other waterways.

It can then make waterways vulnerable to weeds and deplete oxygen supplies needed for native life, experts have said.

Dishwashing detergents and municipal tap water are among other sources of phosphorous in waste water.

Illinois banned lawn care companies from using fertilizers with phosphorous on residential laws in 2010. State law also limits the amount of phosphorous in cleaning agents, such as detergents.

Mundelein trustees and administrators discussed options for restricting the use of such chemicals during Monday night's village board meeting. Options ranged from banning their use locally to banning their sale in local stores.

Trustee Dakotah Norton suggested stores could require people buying fertilizer to show their driver's licenses at the register. Anyone with a Mundelein address could be turned away, he said.

That idea was rejected. Board members opted against any kind of sales prohibition, saying they didn't want to keep local hardware or home-improvement stores from selling products to people who live outside the village.

However, under the proposal that began developing Monday, stores would have to post signs on shelves saying fertilizers containing phosphorous couldn't be used on lawns in Mundelein.

Local residents could still use fertilizers with phosphorous on flower beds and vegetable gardens, officials said.

Village Administrator John Lobaito said he and his staff will draft rules resembling the bans in Libertyville or Gurnee. "I anticipate having that on the board's agenda for (the meeting on) July 13," Lobaito said.

Officials noted the rules really wouldn't be enforceable. Police officers won't test lawns for phosphorous, Mayor Steve Lentz said.

But the rules could bring attention to what Lentz called "a big problem." He said he hopes state legislators take up the issue again and consider enacting stronger laws.

"That's really the only place that a solution for this can come from," Lentz said.

Lincolnshire investigating phosphorus ban for fertilizer

Gurnee joins other towns in ban on fertilizer phosphorus

Libertyville bans use of phosphorous in fertilizer

The environmental consequences loving your lawn too much

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.