Bristol smells of vinegar after council uses condiment as 'bizarre' weed killer

The City Council are using vinegar on some areas of the city as part of a year-long trial

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Residents of Bristol have complained the city is starting to smell of vinegar after the council decided to use the chip shop condiment as a weed killer.

Vinegar is being trialled as an alternative to the chemical Glyphosate - the active ingredient in Roundup and other weed killers - after experts at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded it is "probably" carcinogenic.

Bristol City Council are using vinegar on some areas of the city as part of a year-long trial into Glyphosate-free weed treatments. Other areas are not being treated at all as part of the trial.

Horticultural vinegar, which contains more acetic acid than regular malt vinegar, can be used as an inexpensive weed treatment.

The acetic acid destroys cell membranes, causing the plant tissues to dry out.

However, some campaigning groups say vinegar is a feeble alternative to commercial weed killers.

Harriet Williams, from Pesticide Safe Bristol Alliance, told the Western Daily Press: "The only true trial involved here will be that endured by local residents, as they face a year of weeds growing upon streets and pavements, and the smell of vinegar in unexpected places."

The PSBA said it is "bizarre" the council opted for vinegar, or stopped killing weeds in some places, when safer and more modern technologies are available.

The council's interim service director for clean and green, Gillian Douglas, told the paper: ''This trial of Glyphosate-free weed treatments is still in its early stages, having been implemented in response to widespread public concern about the use of Glyphosate as a weed killer.

"We are sorry to hear that some residents are concerned about the use of vinegar and we will monitor feedback throughout the trial."