Scotts’ Corporate Landscape Blemished by Recall

publication date: Apr 28, 2008

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author/source: Kate Copsey / STAFF

Kate Copsey

Scotts Lawn and Garden products have been a staple of American landscape care for many decades. You may have noticed though that two of your favorite chemicals are not available in the store right now.

The two in question are the “Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed All Purpose Plant Food Plus Weed Preventer” and “Garden Weed Preventer and Plant food.” There are also some products used by Scotts Lawn Service that have been recalled.

The trouble came to light on April 10 when Scotts found out that they were being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice and the EPA.

The problem is that Scotts has grossly violated EPA regulations regarding registration of pesticides, and the violation includes two illegally used EPA numbers.

It seems that Scotts arrogantly chose not only to ignore the registration process, but it also put an invalid number on their products. The EPA registration numbers 62355-4 and 538-304 are not valid.

“A manufacturer such as Scotts cannot ignore the important legal requirement of registering its pesticides,” said Mary A. Gade of EPA’s Region 5. Hence the call to “stop sale, use or removal” of the items.

The move was made in order to stop the products’ use in home gardens, but here in the South, where lawn and garden care has already begun, consumers may well have the items in their garage. Consumers are advised to check ALL their Scotts products. If you have one of these products that have chemicals labeled with the above numbers you can take it back to the store or call Scotts for information on refunds.

This mess that Scotts has found itself in is further eroding its image. Just two years ago they were embroiled in a lawsuit against Terracycle, a small company in New York.

The company, run by two young university graduates, was producing an organic fertilizer and packaging it in two-liter soda bottles recycled from the local schools. Scotts claimed that the label they used was “too close” to theirs, and was thus confusing to consumers. Hence a hefty lawsuit was started. To say that this was a classic “David against Goliath” would not be an understatement.

The case was settled out of court, and Terracycle was told to take down their web site, which showed their simple inner city warehouse overlooking a chain link fence versus the Scotts landscaped corporate headquarters. Naturally, when the case was settled, they told me “we are not allowed to discuss the case”.

Terracycle now runs a program that recycles drink pouches, yogurt containers and other useful items and turns them into reusable bags, totes and pencil cases as well as organic fertilizer. Their web site, www.terracycle.net, gives details as how to participate in the programs.

For more information on the recalled products from Scotts, you can visit www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/ptb/news
UPC numbers include: 073561008365 and 073561048361
If you have concerns about your products you can call the EPA hotline at 888-838-1304 (9 a.m. – 4.30 p.m central time).