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Besides longer stops, what should companies be aware of when shifting to green services?
Dr. Mohammed El Damir, BCE, Adam’s Pest Control
“Green services require greater technical expertise. Technicians must thoroughly understand pest biology, behavior and seasonal activity to predict issues, and they must be skilled in inspection, monitoring, exclusion and sanitation to address root causes rather than relying on pesticides. Companies also must evaluate reduced-risk green products to understand their performance and limitations. Ultimately, green pest management relies less on products and more on science-based decisions through integrated pest management (IPM). Additionally, companies need to understand each customer’s tolerance levels and willingness to accept treatment expectations and build partnerships to implement preventive measures effectively.”
Michael Broder, BHB Pest Elimination
“Make sure you use the correct product in the appropriate areas. Just because a product is green does not mean you can use it anywhere.
Some products may even have a very strong odor that might cause discomfort in small living areas.”
Dan Baldwin, MPH, BCE, REHS/RS, FRSPH, Hawx Pest Control
“I fully support a green approach, but it requires a lot of engagement on the part of the client and can result in more frequent service visits. Even with highly efficient vehicles, that means more energy expended to provide services. Does that yield a net positive environmental impact? Every factor has to be considered. Even when using traditional pesticides, if a company decides it is going to try to have a smaller environmental footprint, additional service requirements may result in other activities that have a negative environmental impact.”
Doug Foster, Burt’s Termite & Pest Control
“It’s most important to set realistic expectations with your client ahead of time. Most eco-friendly products have shorter residual, so more frequent applications may be necessary to achieve acceptable control. It’s also important to have separate equipment (dusters, sprayers) to prevent cross-contamination of products. Another consideration with green services — as well as conventional treatments — is using exclusion techniques as much as possible to prevent pest entry into homes and businesses for long-term control.”
Foster Brusca, The Pest Posse
“Companies must train everyone, from managers to service technicians, that natural botanical materials are different from traditional materials. Everyone in the company must fully grasp the limits of how green services are performed so they can tell customers exactly what to expect. I will add as a side note that no company should ever go all in at once with green services; they need to ease into it. Start with one route and one good service technician and build from there.”
