Tower Hamlets Council has admitted to using an extremely harmful substance called glyphosate to control weeds in the borough. In 2015, the World Health Organisation announced that glyphosate “probably” causes a certain type of cancer in humans.
A Freedom Of Information request submitted by a local Green Party member highlighted that the council uses glyphosate on roads in Tower Hamlets. It used to be used in parks too, but not anymore.
The council admitted that their previous use of glyphosate was excessive. However, even when trying to cut down, the council used 110 litres of the stuff between September 2019 and September 2020 across Tower Hamlets.
We urge the Council to stop using glyphosate-based weed killers altogether because they are so harmful to humans and the natural environment.