The United States Postal Service® manages an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that establishes pest prevention and suppression in an environmentally sound and cost-effective manner. The overall goal of the program is to use pest control practices that emphasize nonchemical control techniques over chemical control techniques. Chemical pesticides must only be used as a last resort. The IPM program:
n Minimizes harm to the ecosystem, human health, and the environment;
n Reduces the need for pesticide applications;
n Reduces pest resistance to pesticides; and
n Minimizes pesticide waste.
Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides. All types of pesticides are regulated because they contain chemicals that can be dangerous to human health and the environment. The Postal Service restricts certain practices for safety and environmental reasons:
n USPS personnel must never purchase or apply restricted use pesticides:
n Check the label or obtain the Safety Data Sheet from the vendor or manufacturer to determine whether a product is (or contains) a restricted use pesticide.
n The Environmental Protection Agency and some state regulatory agencies maintain lists of restricted use pesticides. See the “Additional Information” section.
n USPS personnel must never purchase, mix, dilute, or apply concentrated pesticides, even if commercially available.
Additionally, the use of rodent (i.e., mice or rats) control glue or sticky traps is strictly prohibited in Postal Service™ facilities.
Only contracted, licensed pesticide applicators should apply restricted use pesticides or mix concentrated pesticides. Facility Services Category Management Center is responsible for all commercial pest control and abatement services. Currently, the Postal Service has two mandatory national suppliers for pest control services:
n Ecolab Pest Management Services (blue.usps.gov/supplymanagement/_pdf/am_nmcs_mlb16-005.pdf).
n National Source for Integrated Pest Management Services, Pipestone (blue.usps.gov/supplymanagement/_pdf/am_nmcs_mlb19-004.pdf).
For more information, refer to the Integrated Pest Management Environmental Compliance Bulletin at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/waste/ecb-pestmanagment.pdf or the Supply Management website at blue.usps.gov/supplymanagement/fscmc-pest-ctrl.htm. If you have any questions, send an email to sustainability@usps.gov.
— Joint Contribution from Supply Management
and the Office of Sustainability, 10-10-19
