Foamstream helping to drive the rise in UK Councils going chemical-free
As tighter controls come into force on the use of Glyphosate-based products around Europe, it is perhaps unsurprising that a recent study has found increasing numbers of councils in the UK have voluntarily turned to chemical-free weed control solutions. One of the driving factors for this could be the improvement in the effectiveness of non-herbicidal methods available, with Foamstream from Weedingtech proven to deliver vegetation control comparable to that of Glyphosate in independent trials.
The good news is that recent reports published in The Guardian demonstrate that the number of councils, from parish to county level, turning to natural alternatives is on the rise – with an estimated 80 councils around the UK now proudly chemical-free. “This rise is brilliant news and indicates the increasing concern that councils and the wider public now have about Glyphosate” comments Thomas Hamilton, Co-Founder of Weedingtech. “But for this positive growth to continue, Councils needs to be assured that the non-chemical alternatives available are effective and viable – from both a commercial and financial perspective.”
Since its launch in 2011, Foamstream has proved a successful solution to users from all corners of grounds and green space management. The active ingredient is hot water, insulated by a biodegradable, organic foam derived from natural plant oils and sugars which keeps the water in the ‘kill zone’ of 57oC and above for longer. As well as killing the plant, Foamstream also sterilises surrounding seeds and spores, preventing future weed growth and resulting in half the number of treatment cycles required when compared to other non-chemical options.
Trials conducted by the US Department of Natural Resources revealed that hot foam demonstrates a number of advantages over using herbicides such as Glyphosate for controlling annual weeds. Firstly, there are no herbicide regulations or safety issues to consider. The risk of the oils and sugars of Foamstream moving and/or having a significant impact on other ecosystem components is, likely, lower than that posed by Glyphosate. Because it is applied near the ground, it can also be applied in windy conditions that would preclude the application of a sprayed herbicide.
One of the many councils now using Foamstream is East Devon District Council, eliminating the use of Glyphosate in the management of a range of weed species in public spaces across the district. “The team understood that there was an environmental impact to their spraying and, with a Glyphosate ban imposed in 2022, we needed to explore all options to find something the team would be happy to adopt and that would deliver the same efficacy and efficiency as Glyphosate” explains Horticultural Technical Officer Paul Fealey.
“We have already had fantastic feedback and are witnessing large areas of weeds killed within 24 hours of treatment. Foamstream sterilising spores and seed banks was another major benefit compared to some of the other non-herbicidal alternatives, which will help to break the ‘losing battle’ the teams have traditionally faced with the rapid life cycles of ephemeral weeds.” Paul adds, “We are now well placed to control weeds in a way that is of benefit to our operatives, to the environment and to those across areas in the wider public realm.”
