Membership Eligibility and Performance Measures for PESP

• Eligibility
• PESP groups-where do you fit?
• Performance measures

Eligibility

PESP membership is open to companies and organizations that:

• Use pesticides
• Represent pesticide users
• Implement or influence pest management practices of pesticide users

Companies that primarily manufacture or market pest control chemicals or products are generally not eligible for membership.

Although PESP members represent diverse segments of the pesticide-user community, they often share common pesticide challenges. PESP membership is divided into four groups of members who share common pesticide interests, such as community IPM and sustainable agriculture.

PESP Groups-Where Do You Fit?

Where You Live

• Homeowner associations and residential building managers
• Landscaping retailers, service providers, and associations
• Gardening retailers and associations
• Environmental organizations
• Local, state, and federal governments

Where You Play

Managers of:

• Recreational areas such as golf courses, parks, and sports venues
• Shopping centers
• Vacation and entertainment destinations

Where You Work

Pest management professionals and association managers of:

• Utility companies (rights-of-way)
• Office buildings
• Industrial sites
• Schools
• Hospitals

On the Farm

• Growers
• Grower associations
• Food processors
• Agricultural researchers

Performance Measures

When PESP members develop their IPM strategies, they are encouraged to consider evaluating their performance in up to three categories:

• Risk Reduction.
• Education/Promotion.
• Economic Benefits.

PESP does not currently collect data from members on their overarching membership commitments or progress toward strategic goals. Progress through the tiered program is based on a general commitment to the promotion and implementation of IPM, passing an EPA compliance screening, and third-party certification.

Bronze Members

Bronze members are encouraged to develop an IPM strategy, consider independently measuring improvement against performance metrics, and appoint an IPM leader in their organization. Following PESP's annual members compliance screening, organizations in good standing are elevated to the Silver PESP membership.

When Bronze members independently develop their IPM strategies, they may elect to collect data on those risk reduction measures relevant to their operations. Members are encouraged to use these measures within their organizations to document achievement of or significant progress toward their IPM own goals.

Silver Members

Silver PESP members expand upon the commitments that they made as Bronze members. To remain in good standing, Silver members are encouraged to expand their IPM activities and to seek third-party certification of their IPM-related practices. After spending one year at this tier, organizations in good standing and which have attained a third-party certification, such as Green Pro, GreenShield, or EcoWise, can be elevated to Gold PESP membership. At this level all organizations receive a criminal and ecological compliance screen. 

Gold Members

Gold membership is reserved for PESP's outstanding environmental stewards. These members’ demonstrated commitment to pesticide risk reduction makes them models for other PESP members. To remain in good standing, Gold members look for opportunities to grow their IPM commitment, and independently measure their progress against performance metrics, and have a designated IPM leader in their organization.

Gold members may consider independently collecting data on all of the sample Risk Reduction, Economic Benefits, and Education/Promotion measures relevant to their operations. Members are encouraged to independently measure progress toward their IPM strategy goals. At this level all organizations receive a criminal and ecological compliance screen.

Sample IPM-Related Measures