The City and County of Honolulu Storm Water Quality Branch of the Department of Environmental Services, City Mill, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, General Growth Properties and Hawaii Department of Agriculture celebrated Make A Difference During Home Safety month by asking citizens to be everyday environmental heroes who would make a pledge to read the label on pesticides, fertilizers and other household products that contain harmful chemicals. Those who entered the Read The Label contest via pledge card or internet at www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com were eligible to win a $250 GGP card, redeemable at Ala Moana Center or Ward Centre.

We are pleased to announce the winner of the Read The Label contest, and the recipient of the GGP $250 gift card.

Howard Trochez of Waianae

Our thanks to everyone who participated in the Read The Label contest.

We received 50 pledges via the internet and nearly 1000 pledges from participating groups in the City's Make A Difference outreach activities throughout October.

By their nature, pesticides may pose some risk to children, pets, or the environment because they are designed to kill or otherwise adversely affect living organisms. At the same time, pesticides are often useful because of their ability to control disease-causing organisms, insects, weeds, or other pest. The pesticide label is the best guide to using pesticides safely and effectively; it is the law. It contains pertinent information to read and understand before purchasing and using a pesticide product.

Quotes from first new releasse

Dr. Eric Takamura, ENV Director stated, "The key message is to 'Read the Label First' so you can make informed choices when you purchase, use, store and dispose of pesticides, fertilizers or other household products. Simply reading a product's label will help you keep your family, pets, and community safe."

"Any pesticide can be hazardous if misused," said Robert Boesch, manager of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Branch. "Even if you have used the pesticide before, reading the label instructions is crucial to protect yourself, your family, neighbors and the community."

Steven Ai, President of City Mill, said that "City Mill agrees that reading the label is the first step to choosing the right product for your needs, keeping safe, helping the environment, and saving money. Reading the label first is important, if you simply want the product to work the way it should! Look for easier-to-read labels on many home pesticide and cleaning products now on our store shelves."

Carol Pregill, President, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, added that "Teaming up with the City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services, City Mill and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture offered the Retail Merchants of Hawaii a valuable opportunity to inaugurate a new regulation that requires retailers to post 'read the label' signage for consumers as a critical step to protect our keiki, our pets, and the environment."