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Table 2 Relevant indicators of Toronto pesticide policy roll-out and program implementation.

From: Municipal bylaw to reduce cosmetic/non-essential pesticide use on household lawns - a policy implementation evaluation

Domain Indicator Gardening Season
   2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Enforcement/legal Bylaw complaint investigations 1672 1118 294 74 127*
  Warning letters issued NA 6 28 6 0
  Convictions NA 3 0 1 3
Education & Outreach Advertisements placed 353 503 335 850** 850
  Website - Pages of content 50 197 230 No info No info
  Traffic/month 4,754 7,999 12,000   
  General information materials (postcard, brochure, pamphlet) 40,000 20,356 92, 949 89,250 > 75,000
  Technical manual 435 892 482 45 25
  Plastic "pesticide" free lawn signs 3000 1646 300 Discontinued NA
  Telephone Inquiries 709 588 434 174 318
  Presentations at events 53 74 74 32 20
  Go Natural retail participation NA 122 stores
83,343 materials 		122 stores
98,000 materials 		113 stores
53,334 materials 		145
30,627 materials
  Fact sheets on natural gardening NA NA > 2500 > 2500 > 2500
  1. *Several lawn care companies introduced a new lower-risk pesticide in 2008, which triggered an increase in complaints, though the pesticide was compliant with the bylaw.
  2. ** In 2007 and 2008, TPH initiated an extensive month-long radio ad campaign, which significantly increased the number of ads.
  3. NA = Not applicable
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Environmental Health

ISSN: 1476-069X