FOI release

On efficacy and viability of glyphosate alternatives

Case reference FOI2026/01963

Received 14 September 2026

Published 19 October 2026

Request

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations about the use of NON-glyphosate weed control products and methods, their efficacy and viability for use in local authority settings.

The queries are as follows:

1. Do you or your contractors currently use any of the following NON-glyphosate-based weed control measures?

Manual Weeding
Mechanical weeding
Mulching
Cultural control
Vinegar/ acetic acid
Hot foam
Non-glyphosate chemical products (please name)
Pelargonic acid
Hot lances/ weed guns (using flame)
Weed barriers/ membranes
Hot water
Electricity
Steam
Letting weeds grow
Other (please name)

2. For the same list, please identify which, if any, products you or your contractors have considered or trialled, but REJECTED giving the reasons why in each case.

Manual Weeding
Mechanical weeding
Mulching
Cultural control
Vinegar/ acetic acid
Hot foam
Non-glyphosate chemical products (please name)
Pelargonic acid
Hot lances/ weed guns (using flame)
Weed barriers/ membranes
Hot water
Electricity
Steam
Letting weeds grow
Other (please name)

If so, please outline:
the nature of the infringement of each incident and whether it led to of the following:

Improvement Notice
Fee for Intervention
Prosecution

Response

Thank you for your recent request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Please find the answers to your queries below:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, could you please provide the following information from the last 12 months:

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations about the use of NON-glyphosate weed control products and methods, their efficacy and viability for use in local authority settings.

The queries are as follows:

1. Do you or your contractors currently use any of the following NON-glyphosate-based weed control measures?

Manual Weeding – Yes
Mechanical weeding – Yes
Mulching – Yes
Cultural control – Yes
Vinegar/ acetic acid – Yes
Hot foam – No
Non-glyphosate chemical products (please name)

Fluroxyppyr
Dicamba
Dimethyline salt
Mecoprop- p
2,4-D,
MCPA

Pelargonic acid – Yes
Hot lances/ weed guns (using flame) – No
Weed barriers/ membranes – No
Hot water – No
Electricity – No
Steam – No
Letting weeds grow – Yes
Other (please name)

2. For the same list, please identify which, if any, products you or your contractors have considered or trialled, but REJECTED giving the reasons why in each case.

Hot foam – Currently trialling

If so, please outline:
the nature of the infringement of each incident and whether it led to of the following:

Improvement Notice
Fee for Intervention
Prosecution

N/A

Yours sincerely

FOI Team

Guildford Borough Council

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is Guildford Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.