Young campaigners challenge Newcastle City Council over street pesticide use after FOI findings

Freedom of Information data shows Newcastle City Council has bought over 2,500 litres of glyphosate-based herbicides since 2022 (1). UK Youth for Nature are calling on Newcastle City Council to stop spraying toxic chemicals and to follow through on their promises.

The campaign group has been using creative campaigning techniques to garner support for their work. Billboards went up in multiple locations across Newcastle on Friday 27th March. Last summer, campaigners took to the streets with drag queen artist, Patti Boo Rae, to raise awareness about their campaign (photos below) and the group has a live petition collecting signatures.

In July 2022, Newcastle City Council declared a biodiversity emergency and pledged to phase out the use of pesticides in parks and green spaces by 2027. However, the council continues to use thousands of litres and spend public money on glyphosate despite its pledge.

New data obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveals that Newcastle City Council has bought 2,553 litres of glyphosate-based herbicides since July 2022, despite its commitment to phase out pesticide use in public spaces by next year.

The same request found that the council does not hold internal monitoring or progress reports assessing its pesticide reduction commitment, raising concerns about a lack of transparency and how progress towards a phase-out is being tracked.

Council officers confirmed that spraying practices are carried out in line with decisions made by elected members, placing responsibility for continued pesticide use firmly with local councillors. 

Pesticides - the umbrella term for chemicals used to kill unwanted plants and animals - have significant negative impacts for wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, pet health, and human health, having been linked to respiratory problems, depression, hormonal disruption and cancer.

In 2024, councils across the UK spent a staggering £14.1 million on these chemicals.    

UK Youth for Nature (UKY4N), the UK's leading youth movement calling for urgent action on the nature crisis, is asking Newcastle City Council to extend their pesticide phase-out pledge to the whole city, and to manage streets, verges and playgrounds using less dangerous methods. 

The youth organisation is asking anyone who lives, works, or studies in Newcastle to add their name to a petition demanding safe and nature-rich streets. 

Co-Director of UKY4N and local resident Roisin Taylor, said: 

‘There’s no shortage of data showing how harmful pesticides are to people, wildlife and pets, yet we are exposed to these chemicals every day in our local area.  As a resident of nearby Gateshead, I am seriously worried about being around carcinogenic chemicals daily, walking my dogs in poisoned green spaces, and seeing wildlife being wiped out from our streets, especially when there are alternatives available. At UK Youth for Nature, we are asking Newcastle City Council to make the city spray-free because poison is not a policy.’ 

In 2024, UK councils reported using 354 tonnes of herbicides in our towns and cities. Many of these chemicals were used on road verges, which are home to over 700 species of wildflower - nearly 45% of the UK’s flora.

92% of councils still use weedkillers made from glyphosate, which is classed as a ‘probable human carcinogen’ by the World Health Organization. Children are especially vulnerable to harm from glyphosate due to their lower body weight and the greater contact they have with sprayed surfaces in areas such as playgrounds.

Many alternative non-chemical methods to remove unwanted plants exist, such as hot foam, brushing, mulching and hand weeding. These methods are already being used by councils including Hackney, Lambeth and Derry, who have gone spray-free without any extra cost. In fact, Hackney Council saved £10,000 a year after cutting pesticide use by 80%.

As part of their Your Wild Streets campaign, UKY4N is urging Newcastle City Council to phase out the use of pesticides across the council district and instead create vibrant, biodiverse urban spaces where people and nature can thrive side by side.