<img class="alignnone  wp-image-244" alt="Pillars of Law and Information at the United States Supreme Court" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/iStock_000015557555Large-Pillars.jpg" width="500" height="290" />
<h1>Advancing Toxic-Free Policies</h1>
Midwest Pesticide Action Center is dedicated to protecting communities’ air, water, and wildlife from the dangerous health and environmental impacts of pesticides. To achieve this goal, we work with local and regional governments to limit pesticide use and empower the public to protect themselves through education about these toxic chemicals.

Together, we are working to make pesticide reduction an essential element on legislative agendas. Midwest Pesticide Action Center has been instrumental in the success of the following policies:

Continue reading for: <a href="#Schools">State of Illinois Integrated Pest Management in Schools Law</a>, <a href="#Lawn">State of Illinois Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act</a>, <a href="#Parents">State of Illinois Parents Right-to-Know Law</a>, <a href="#Ordinance">City of Chicago Bed Bug Ordinance</a>, <a href="#Evanston">The City of Evanston Sustainable Pest Control and Pesticide-Reduction Resolution</a>,<a name="Schools"></a> <a href="#FP">The Village of Franklin Park Sustainable Pest-Control Resolution</a>
<h2>State of Illinois Integrated Pest Management in Schools Law</h2>
Schools and licensed childcare facilities in Illinois are required to adopt an Integrated Pest Management program. Illinois law also requires public schools and licensed childcare centers to stop routine pesticide spraying and to notify parents and staff before indoor pesticides are applied.<a name="Lawn"></a>
<a class="more" href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/pubact91/acts/91-0525.html" target="_blank">Learn More</a>
<h2>State of Illinois Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act</h2>
The Illinois Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act requires pesticide companies to place markers on lawns at the time of application and provide the customer with information on the product used. In addition, any adjacent neighbor has a legal right to be notified in advance of neighbors’ pesticide applications. If you request to be notified, the company hired by your neighbor must contact you one day ahead in person or by telephone to let you know what they will be applying, and the date and approximate time of application.<a name="Parents"></a> <a class="more" href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/pubact91/acts/91-0099.html" target="_blank">Learn More</a>
<h2>State of Illinois Parents Right-to-Know Law</h2>
The Parents Right-to-Know Law amends the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act, administered by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, by requiring schools and childcare facilities to provide notification prior to the application of pesticides on school grounds. Parents must be by written notification via a newsletter, bulletins, calendars, or other correspondence published by the school district.<a name="Ordinance"></a> <a class="more" href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=096-0424" target="_blank">Learn More</a>
<h2>City of Chicago Bed Bug Ordinance</h2>
On June 5th, 2013, Chicago became one of the first U.S. cities to pass a comprehensive bed bug ordinance.  Midwest Pesticide Action Center has long advocated for the ordinance, which began with our report,  <em><a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Battling-Bed-Bugs.pdf">Battling Bed Bugs in Chicago: Making the Case for a Comprehensive Plan</a></em><i>,</i> submitted to the mayor's office in 2011. Sponsored by Ray Suarez of the 31st Ward, Harry Osterman of the 48th Ward, and Debra Silverstein of the 50th Ward, this ordinance requires property owners to provide pest-control management utilizing proven best practices.

The ordinance also outlines responsibilities for tenants and business owners and directs the Department of Public Health to develop an educational campaign with the most current information on bed bug control on its website. Non-compliance will result in fines for property owners of up to $2,000 a day for failing to take steps to eradicate bed bug infestations.<a name="Evanston"></a> <a class="more" href="http://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1255501&amp;GUID=CED19AF3-ADD2-4771-BDDB-04923461D3AC&amp;Options=Advanced&amp;Search=" target="_blank">Learn More</a><i><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">
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<h2>The City of Evanston Sustainable Pest Control and Pesticide-Reduction Resolution</h2>
The City of Evanston serves as a model on the use of sustainable pest control and natural lawn care practices and illustrates how to increase awareness. In 2010, the city created the Sustainable Pest Control and Pesticide Reduction Resolution. This resolution reduces the use of pesticides through the use of sustainable pest-control practices on city-owned or leased property and educates the public and private sectors. Midwest Pesticide Action Center was instrumental in authoring the policy, working with city staff and the environment board for nearly two years on this initiative.<a name="FP"></a> <a class="more" href="http://www.cityofevanston.org/pdf/20-R-10IntegratedPestManagement3-16-2010.pdf" target="_blank">Learn More</a> <a title="Learn More" href="http://www.cityofevanston.org/pdf/20-R-10IntegratedPestManagement3-16-2010.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">
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<h2>The Village of Franklin Park Sustainable Pest-Control Resolution</h2>
The Village of Franklin Park’s resolution put in place a sustainable pest control and pesticide policy, which requires the reduction of pesticide applications on village-owned or leased property to the maximum extent feasible with the least toxic Integrated Pest Management techniques. The village used the Evanston Sustainable Pest Control and Pesticide Reduction Resolution as inspiration. <a class="more" href="http://www.spcpweb.org/attachments/FranklinParkFullResolutionText.pdf" target="_blank">Learn More</a> <a title="Learn More" href="http://www.spcpweb.org/attachments/FranklinParkFullResolutionText.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">
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<h3>For More Information</h3>
<strong>Laws to Protect you from Outdoor Pesticides:</strong> For information about the laws in place to protect you from outdoor pesticides in Illinois. <a class="more" title="Laws to Protect You" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Laws-to-Protect-you-from-Outdoor-Pesticides.pdf">
Learn More </a>

<strong>Notification Guidelines – Parents Rights to Know:</strong> For information on your rights to protect your children where they learn and play. <a class="more" href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ParentsRight-to-Know-NotificationGuidelines.pdf">Learn More</a>

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