DuPont recalls lawn chemical: Imprelis herbicide causes financial, environmental damage
Insects and high temperatures created one set of problems for local plant and pest experts this summer. The DuPont Co. created another.
On Sept. 6, the national chemical company began the process to resolve claims against its recently introduced herbicide Imprelis. Created for weed control, the chemical solution had an unexpected side effect and has been found to damage certain trees, primarily sensitive species such as the Norway spruce and white pine.
Anne Crousore, co-owner of Specialty Water Gardens & Landscapes, said she has also noticed significant Imprelis-related damage in the Columbia area. At least one of her customers has incurred major costs from tree damage and removal.
“DuPont’s mistake has created extra work for us,” Crousore said. “This kind of situation requires removing soil, removing trees, bringing in new trees; it’s not an easy process.
“If you start noticing around town, you’ll notice brown evergreen trees. A lot of that is because of this chemical.”
Atkins Inc. was one Columbia business to use Imprelis, which promised better results and lower environmental impact than its competitors. Instead, said Atkins’ Senior Vice President Emily Thoroughman, the chemical’s effects have set a series of complicated events in motion, both financially and environmentally.
“DuPont has been very slow in deciding how they are going to handle the issue,” Thoroughman said. “But our dedication has always been in taking care of our customers. We’re not exactly sure where these complications put us financially. There are still a lot of details to work out, and we have already spent a lot of time on this.”
Calculating the true cost of complications is difficult. Taking care of issues relating to Imprelis treatments has kept Atkins from tending to other aspects of the business. It has required hiring extra help to get the normal routine accomplished while key employees focus on damage assessments and work with customers regarding claims.
DuPont has acknowledged the problems Imprelis has caused. The company has created an Imprelis hotline and a special section on its website to address public concerns, including the how-to process to receive compensation. Property owners wanting to file claims are asked to contact their lawn care professional. Those owners will then be contacted by their landscaping service or a DuPont representative, who will help with assessments and mailing.
Thoroughman said she is satisfied so far with DuPont’s plan to compensate businesses and homeowners. Although the process is slow and tedious, Atkins will follow it through to the end and make things right with its customers.
“It’s taken a long time, but DuPont seems to have come around,” Thoroughman said. “They seem to have put a pretty good plan together that will help solve these problems for our customers.”
On Sept. 6, the national chemical company began the process to resolve claims against its recently introduced herbicide Imprelis. Created for weed control, the chemical solution had an unexpected side effect and has been found to damage certain trees, primarily sensitive species such as the Norway spruce and white pine.
Anne Crousore, co-owner of Specialty Water Gardens & Landscapes, said she has also noticed significant Imprelis-related damage in the Columbia area. At least one of her customers has incurred major costs from tree damage and removal.
“DuPont’s mistake has created extra work for us,” Crousore said. “This kind of situation requires removing soil, removing trees, bringing in new trees; it’s not an easy process.
“If you start noticing around town, you’ll notice brown evergreen trees. A lot of that is because of this chemical.”
Atkins Inc. was one Columbia business to use Imprelis, which promised better results and lower environmental impact than its competitors. Instead, said Atkins’ Senior Vice President Emily Thoroughman, the chemical’s effects have set a series of complicated events in motion, both financially and environmentally.
“DuPont has been very slow in deciding how they are going to handle the issue,” Thoroughman said. “But our dedication has always been in taking care of our customers. We’re not exactly sure where these complications put us financially. There are still a lot of details to work out, and we have already spent a lot of time on this.”
Calculating the true cost of complications is difficult. Taking care of issues relating to Imprelis treatments has kept Atkins from tending to other aspects of the business. It has required hiring extra help to get the normal routine accomplished while key employees focus on damage assessments and work with customers regarding claims.
DuPont has acknowledged the problems Imprelis has caused. The company has created an Imprelis hotline and a special section on its website to address public concerns, including the how-to process to receive compensation. Property owners wanting to file claims are asked to contact their lawn care professional. Those owners will then be contacted by their landscaping service or a DuPont representative, who will help with assessments and mailing.
Thoroughman said she is satisfied so far with DuPont’s plan to compensate businesses and homeowners. Although the process is slow and tedious, Atkins will follow it through to the end and make things right with its customers.
“It’s taken a long time, but DuPont seems to have come around,” Thoroughman said. “They seem to have put a pretty good plan together that will help solve these problems for our customers.”
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