Take the Pesticide-Free Pledge to keep your home, yard and garden free from toxic pesticides!

At-home Pesticide Alternatives

Resources for general assistance on reducing pest problems in your home or garden

NCAP works to reduce pesticide use at the local, regional and national levels through policy change, advocacy and legislation. We also aim to empower constituents to research and employ alternatives to pesticides. To help you do so, we have created a guide to assist you in your quest to manage pests without pesticides! While NCAP staff would love to hear your success stories, we have limited capacity to provide detailed pest management plans to individual supporters. By researching your own solutions, you save NCAP time and money that we can use to continue producing educational materials for you to utilize free of charge. Browse the materials in the links below, or search our site.

• Pest Management Guide
• Resources for Managing Common Pests & Weeds
• IPM Technical Assistance for Schools & Cities
• Selecting a Pest Control Company
• Choosing an Eco-Friendly Landscaping Company

Multi-Family Housing

NCAP offers several resources for individuals and property managers to help reduce pests and pesticide use indoors. NCAP is particularly concerned with high occupancy, multi-family and subsidized housing as these units often house vulnerable populations and are susceptible to poor air quality.¹ If you rent your home and are concerned about your property owner/manager using pesticides, click for our Tenant Guide to IPM (Integrated Pest Management). 

NCAP participates in collaborations that promote healthy homes and quality of life. With intersectional partners in community-based organizations, our participation aims to reduce the use of toxins, especially in public housing. By reducing toxins in the home, environmental triggers for other health issues (such as asthma) are also reduced.² With low-income communities having high rates of asthma³ as well as high rates of pesticide use, NCAP works to promote a culture shift that emphasizes the use of effective alternatives.

Bed Bugs

• Video: Managing Bed Bugs Without Harmful Pesticides
• Guide for Local Governments: Tackling Bed Bugs
• Poster for Property Managers to Post

References

1. Singh N, Wang C, Cooper R. Effectiveness of a reduced-risk insecticide based bed bug management program in low-income housing. Insects [Internet]. 2013 [cited 21 May 2020];4:731-742. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects4040731
2. Gouge D et al. Quality of life impacts of bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) infestations. University of Arizona: Arizona Pest Management Center; 2015. Poster for the 8th International IPM Symposium. Available from: https://cals.arizona.edu/apmc/docs/Poster-for-the-8th-International-IPM-Symposium-vF.pdf
3. Tran N, Aldrich L, McDermot D. 2013. The burden of asthma in Washington State. February 2013 update. Washington State Department of Health; 2013. DOH 345-240. Available from: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/345-240-AsthmaBurdenRept13.pdf