Modern science gave us more effective pest control, in agriculture as well as for our structures and living environments. This helped solve serious problems of foodshortages (crop production) and diseases (born by various insects and rodents.) However, we realized in the second half of the 20th century that pesticides had to be managed very carefully in order not to cause new problems with our health or the greater environment.
It was in this context that a local Northwest native, Cascade Pest Control, became the first company in the nation to work with both government agencies and private watchdogs dedicated to environmental-health. The process was extremely successful, landing Cascade Pest Control a host of environmental-health and business ethics awards. Cascade got to be a leader in the early movement of commercial operations (of any type) working hand-in-hand with environmental and health-oriented task-forces and agencies.
We set a particular example for the structural pest control industry. Today there is a slow, but steadily growing number of pest control companies that have relinquished their defended positions and some have likewise won their own environmental awards.