The Green Party has welcomed Dublin City Council’s decision to trial alternatives to the use of glyphosate as a weedkiller on streets and in parks in Dublin.This follows on from a Green party motion to City Council seeking the use of alternative methods of weed control. Questions to the Chief Executive showed that three and a half tones of Monsanto’s Roundup glyphosate are purchased annually at a cost of more than €50,000.Research from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization) states that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans. Since then the Green party has pushed for alternatives to be used, particularly in areas where children are at risk.Information supplied by the City Council to the Green party says that three alternatives will be trialed this year in selected areas: Mechanical weed control using spades and shovels; a hot foam known as ‘Foamstream’ with no chemicals that kills the weed (weedingtech.co.uk); and a method known as ‘New way’ spray which uses vinegar. Greentown Environmental Ltd will carry out the tests.Green Party Councillor Ciarán Cuffe said:“I am pleased that Dublin City Council’s Parks Department is moving forward to trialing new methods of weed control. Parents don’t want to see Roundup used in proximity to where their children play, and I hope that these trials will allow us to choose an alternative method of weed control. This trial also addresses an Action in the City Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan2015-2020 to ‘Prepare and implement a pesticide reduction strategy within Dublin City Council’.Issued 15th May 2018