This includes people who make, sell, and use products with clopyralid, and people whose property these are used on. It also includes people who make compost, or anything that goes into compost.

If each part of the supply chain does their bit, we can keep clopyralid out of compost.

The issue

Clopyralid is used to control broadleaf weeds on farms, and in lawns or turf.

Clopyralid doesn’t break down quickly in compost. If vegetation treated with the chemical ends up in compost, this compost could damage plants. The same thing can happen if animals eat contaminated plants, and manure from these animals ends up in compost.

Rules for using clopyralid

There are rules in New Zealand for using clopyralid. Products that contain clopyralid are considered safe if people follow the rules.

These rules are known as controls and are set under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996.

Different products have different uses so they can also have different rules. Here’s a summary:

• You must follow the rules for the specific product you are using. You should also follow the instructions on the label and safety data sheets.
• Do not put plants treated with clopyralid into compost, mulch, or council green waste.
• Some clopyralid products can only be sold to and used by workplaces.

See below to find specific Rules for using clopyralid products.

Compost supply chain and clopyralid

To keep clopyralid out of compost, everyone in the supply chain needs to play a part. The diagram below shows how clopyralid can get into compost.

How everyone in the supply chain plays their part

Here’s a summary. You’ll find more detail below.

Sprayers – why inform your clients

Spraying contractors must also take reasonable steps to stop their sprays damaging the wider environment. Informing your clients what to do with the plants you’ve sprayed is a key way to do this.

Composters and their suppliers – why test

If you sell compost, or sell material for composting, under the Consumer Guarantees Act you must make sure your product is of acceptable quality.

Testing your compost for clopyralid, or getting your suppliers to test their products, helps ensure you’re selling quality compost.

Roles in detail

Here is more detail on each role with a part to play in keeping clopyralid out of compost.

Manufacturers and importers of clopyralid products

Make sure your product is correctly labelled and the safety data sheet (SDS) contains the correct information in relation to New Zealand legislation and approval controls, and the product’s packaging is compliant with the packaging requirements.

• Labelling hazardous substances
• Safety data sheets

Sellers of clopyralid products

Be clear which of your products you can only sell to workplaces. Get a written notification that a qualified person works at the workplace.

• List of clopyralid products you can only sell to workplaces
• Learn more about chemicals you can only sell to workplaces

Sprayers treating lawns or turf with clopyralid

This includes garden and lawn mowing services and their staff. It also includes people who sell ready lawn sprayed with clopyralid products.

• Follow the rules for the product and the instructions on the label and safety data sheet.
• Make sure your clients know that they need to get rid of grass clippings:
  • in landfill
  • not in compost, mulch or council green waste.
• If you mow treated lawns and get rid of the clippings, put them in landfill, not compost, mulch or council green waste
• If you spray lawns but do not mow them for the client, think of ways to encourage your clients to dispose of them appropriately – such as providing a specially labelled bag for them to use.

Be aware that, where entry into the compost chain cannot be controlled, alternate products exist that are safe for compost.

Sprayers treating farms with clopyralid

This includes pastoral and arable farms.

• Follow the rules for the product and the instructions on the label and safety data sheet.
• Make sure your clients know that the treated plants will be contaminated. Tell them that they, and anyone they sell or give these treated plants to, should not put them in compost, mulch or council green waste. The same goes for waste from animals fed on sprayed plants.
• Make sure they know not to supply sprayed plants to animal feed makers.

Lawn or turf owners hiring sprayers who use clopyralid

This includes homeowners, businesses and other organisations who pay people to look after their lawns, or turf such as parks, golf courses or sports fields.

• Ask your sprayers if they use clopyralid.
• If they do, get rid of clippings:
  • in landfill
  • not in compost, mulch or council green waste.

Farmers hiring sprayers who use clopyralid

This includes pastoral and arable farms.

• Get rid of sprayed plants, and waste from animals fed on sprayed plants:
  • in landfill
  • not in compost, mulch, or council green waste.
• Do not supply sprayed plants to animal feed makers.

Animal feed makers

• Make sure your suppliers are aware they should not supply you product that may be contaminated with clopyralid.
• Test and/or get your suppliers to test.

Animal manure suppliers

This includes people who sell or give away animal manure for compost.

• Don’t supply manure from animals fed on plants sprayed with clopyralid.
• Dispose of this manure in landfill or let it decompose naturally.

Green waste collectors

This includes council and private operators who collect waste which is used for compost.

• Make sure the people you collect from know they should not give you plants or clippings sprayed with clopyralid.
• Test and/or get your larger clients to test.

Composters and compost sellers

This includes council and private operators who turn waste into compost. It also includes people who bag and on-sell compost, and compost retailers.

• Make sure your suppliers don’t give you clippings from plants sprayed with clopyralid, or waste from animals fed on plants sprayed with clopyralid.
• Test and/or get your suppliers to test.

Rules for using clopyralid products

You can find the rules for using clopyralid products via the HSNO approval number the products are approved under.

This table lists approval numbers for common products in New Zealand. It also shows which ones can only be used in workplaces.

If a product isn’t on this table, check its documentation to find the HSNO approval number. You can then find the rules for use by searching: Approved hazardous substances with controls database

General rules for clopyralid

Find out more

Clopyralid in compost – guide for gardeners

Clopyralid in compost – Consumer NZ

Learn more about rules for hazardous substances

For more information or to report a problem, please email info@epa.govt.nz