SIC cuts out the chemicals

SHETLAND Islands Council has invested in a new weed killing system that uses hot water in an effort to eliminate the environmental impact of spraying chemicals.

The council is one of only a few local authorities in Scotland to use high temperature water instead of traditional chemicals when controlling weeds.

Local authority workers have been using the Cardley Wave system since May.

The SIC’s environmental services manager William Spence said there were suggestions that new legislation could be enforced later this year to prevent some chemical weed killers from being used.

“It’s much more environmentally friendly too, so that’s the main benefit,” he said.

“If you’re using chemicals, they can go into water courses and things like that. The wind would also drift some of the chemicals off target.”

Spence added that a number of local councils have been in touch to learn more about the system, with Orkney even requesting a loan of the machine.

No licence is needed to operate the system, which means it could be offered for community use in the future.