Public Service Announcement
(Friday, July 16, 2010) - Members of the public who believe they’ve spotted Giant Hogweed on HRM-owned property should call the HRM call centre (490-4000) to report the sighting.
HRM has now issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the services of a Landscaping Contractor to mechanically remove and dispose of Giant Hogweed reported and identified as being on HRM property. Removal work will begin the end of next week - once the competition has closed and a contractor has been decided upon.
This service does not extend to personal property. Individuals who believe their property contains Giant Hogweed should call Marian Munro (424-3564) at the Nova Scotia Museum (for identification) and contact a landscaper for plant disposal.
A landscaper is recommended for the following reasons: Giant Hogweed may present environmental health and safety risks to residents considering handling the plant; and is currently considered a potentially Hazardous Material and not acceptable for either HRM landfill or the Compost waste management processes.
HRM staff are asking residents or landscapers to either arrange for disposal of Giant Hogweed by incineration or hydroclave (high temperature steam blasting). Alternately, it can simply be bagged and temporarily retained until staff are able to determine how to deal with it as a hazardous waste.
Please note: Giant Hogweed does not go in green bins or regular garbage.
For additional information on Giant Hogweed and other invasive species, please visit: http://www.halifax.ca/energy-environment/Environment/InvasiveSpecies.html
-30-
Contact:
Shaune MacKinlay
Public Affairs Manager
(902) 490-6531
