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Q: This pesticide is discontinued. What can I use instead?
Federal Govt Info Line (PMRA – Pesticide Information Line) –call this for information about products or for help with product labels (1-800-267-6315). Contact your local garden centre for information on new products available to treat your pest problem.
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Q: I can buy this, why can’t I use it?
- If it is a commercial class product, vendors may not wish to sell to domestic users (these products are designed for large scale commercial or industrial use), and it will not be appropriate for residential use.
- There may be a municipal bylaw that prohibits the use of the product in question.
- You may require a pesticide user licence and pesticide applicator certificate to use the product.
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Q: Where can I look up my municipal bylaws regarding pesticide use?
Check your local bylaws.
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Q: When will my RAC expire?
Your RAC expires 10 years after it is issued.
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Q: If I have a Residential Applicator Certificate, can I apply domestic products for landscape use on my property if my municipality has a cosmetic use bylaw?
It depends. If the product is on Schedule 2, you will be able to use the product. Check with your municipality for more information. Some municipal bylaws allow cosmetic use with expressed permission of the municipality.
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Q: I’ve seen some pesticides listed as “Schedule 2” or “Schedule 5” products. What does that mean? Can I use these products without a certificate?
These pesticides are referred to in the course as ones available “On the Shelf” or available if you “Ask your Vendor” respectively. Municipalities can restrict the use of Schedule 5 pesticides, so check your by-laws before using any of these “Ask your Vendor” products.
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Q: My municipality has a cosmetic use ban. Can I use a less toxic product that’s not restricted for use by the province?
You may use products from the “On the Shelf” or “Ask your Vendor” lists – check with your municipality first.
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Q: What counts as a landscaped area?
A landscaped residential area includes the lawn, ornamental (non-fruit) trees, or ornamental gardens (plants, shrubs, flowers), Driveways, pathways, sidewalks and patios that are part of landscaped areas. Landscaped Areas DO NOT Include:
- Food gardens
- Fruit-bearing trees and shrubs (for human consumption) Dwellings
- Treatment of structural pests, e.g. rodents, carpenter ants
- Hobby farming operations on private land
- Commercial farming operations on private land
You can purchase and use domestic-labelled products in these excluded areas without a RAC or licence (please check your municipal bylaws).
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Q: What is considered as a noxious weed or an invasive species in BC?
A noxious weed is a harmful or poisonous plant. An invasive species is a non-native species that has the potential to spread and cause damage. The following lists include species that are defined by BC law as noxious or invasive:
- Weed species that are defined as invasive under the Forest and Range Practices Act
- Weeds defined as noxious provincially and regionally in BC
- Invasive species according to Environment and Wildlife Regulation
If you are wondering whether a species in your home landscape is noxious or invasive, you may need to check all three lists.
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Q: How do I dispose of an empty Pesticide container?
- Marked “domestic?” No poison symbol? = Household waste disposal is okay. Wrap and dispose of container in household garbage. Do not reuse the container. If there is a poison symbol? You must take this to a disposal facility: at Product Care – Paint Plus depots, free-of-charge (see www.regeneration.ca for more information).
- If it is marked “Commercial” (or Agricultural, Forestry, Industrial or Horticultural), or “Restricted”, you can take it to an approved collection depot (see www.cleanfarms.ca for more information). The RAC holder can only use domestic class pesticides.
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Q: I have this pesticide that is really old. It might not even be registered for use anymore. What should I do with it?
- Contact Product Care at 1.888.772.9772 to see if it can be taken to a local disposal facility.
- If you have obsolete or unwanted commercial pesticides, store them in a proper storage facility until a free disposal event is planned for your local area (generally every three years). See www.cleanfarms.ca for more information.
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Q: What are some common household pest problems and their treatment?
Some common pest problems and their treatments (provided they’re allowed in your municipality)—and the certificate requirements.
Common Problem Treatment? Certificate? Ants in/around house Domestic ant bait stations, aerosal sprays, borax treatments No Snails in vegetable garden Domestic snail bait (ferric phosphate) No Weeds along the boulevard (municipal land) Spraying weed killer Pesticide User Licence – contact your municipality. Mites on your cedar hedge Domestic mineral oil No Insects in a vegetable garden Spraying insecticide No Aphids in a rose garden Spraying insecticide not on excluded list or schedule 5 Residential Applicator Certificate. Flea treatment on a pet Flea treatment from vet No Rat control in and around a house Rodent baits (except for corn cellulose) No Dandelions in a lawn Spraying a herbicide (weed killer) not on excluded list or schedule 5 Residential Applicator Certificate. Leaf rollers in a lilac bush Spraying an insecticide not on excluded list or schedule 5 Residential Applicator Certificate. Poison ivy along a pathway Spraying domestic glyphosate No Weeds in cracks in asphalt driveway Spraying glyphosate weed killer No European chafer in a lawn Spraying an insecticide not on excluded list or schedule 5 Residential Applicator Certificate. Blackspot on roses Spraying a fungicide not on excluded list or schedule 5 Residential Applicator Certificate.
