At the meeting of the Council’s Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee on Friday 12th December 2025, Green Party Councillors opposed the reintroduction of the routine use of the toxic pesticide Glyphosate on Sheffield’s streets.
Hillsborough Ward Councillor Christine Gilligan Kubo said,
“We want to continue to encourage the reduction in the use of glyphosate and to look at using other ways of removing weeds and vegetation around street furniture. Alternative products are available or manual weed removal.
“The current spot treatment around obstacles increases the use of glyphosate. The Council’s contractor, Amey, has now got an updated street cleansing routine that should reduce the detritus on the streets that encourage weed growth. They also have a new vehicle that can remove weeds without using pesticides. So the argument for returning to routine spraying of pesticides on local streets is reduced.
“Our country is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and ranks in the worst 10%. In response the Council has declared a Nature Emergency and so more vegetation in our environment is a positive thing and helps support biodiversity.
“It was surprising to hear that the Lib Dem Chair of the Committee was not sure how introducing a toxic compound to the environment could have knock-on effects to biodiversity.
Green Party Councillor for Ecclesall, Councillor Peter Gilbert said,
“There are some very real dangers from glyphosate to people and animals and evidence that it is linked to increased risk of cancers and leukaemia even at what the EU classes as safe exposures.
“As well as concerns for people and animals affected there is also the very real possibility of the Council being sued by staff in the future due to exposure to this carcinogen. There are companies in the US facing legal claims in the billions of dollars. Officers said that Amey would be liable for this.
“Glyphosate not only has an impact on vegetation but it also kills butterflies, earthworms and other creatures. We are in a nature crisis and the use of pesticides makes it worse.
“I wasn’t surprised to hear Labour councillors speaking up in defence of Monsanto, the multinational industrial chemical monopoly that created glyphosate.”
The Committee voted to reintroduce the use of Glyphosate around obstacles such as benches and other street furniture. Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors voted in favour and only the 2 Green Party Councillors voted against.
