At least 400  US towns and cities (and counting) have banned or limited use of gas-powered leaf blowers. Last year, Rockport voters overwhelmingly passed a law to phase out gas blowers over two years--by 2026. Landscapers are allowed to use gas blowers during fall and spring until 2026. Last summer, some complied and used battery blowers, some didn't comply at all. Some landscapers ignored the law, others complied. ​

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Despite voters' choice, a landscaper-led petition called for   "Special Meeting" to overturn the new law, claiming that their businesses will go bankrupt, despite evidence from landscapers around the country, as well as studies, showing that businesses make MORE money when they transition to battery technology. Gas blowers cost FOUR TIMES that of battery blowers to run, according to landscapers who use them and keep track of costs. (Listen to interview on this site with CEO of Mow Green--he shares his costs and provides evidence behind his positive returns on investment.)  

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So to heck with Rockport voters? A "Special Town Meeting" is normally saved for emergency situations that affect all citizens - but the petitioners know that most active voters show up at the Annual Town Meeting--so they avoided added it to that meeting--and instead hope to pack the room with friends and families. Most citizens aren't even aware of special meetings--but Rockport citizens pay for them. This is a "special interest" meeting covered by taxpaers (the same people who voted FOR the ban) -- at a price tag of between $8,000 and $12,000, according to town government. 

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Most gas blowers use excessively loud outdated 2-stroke engines that produce ear-damaging noise at a long distance and emit carcinogenic fumes and particulates that blow around with leaves at up to 280mph (three times more wind force than the 78mph winds of a hurricane.) All to push leaves into piles? Battery blowers are much quieter, and more importantly, do NOT GENERATE the low frequency noise of gas blowers that can maintain severely high decibel levels over long distances - and travel right through walls, including schools. The noise is prolonged, unlike a passing ambulance--and an ambulance siren is there to save lives, while gas blowers can damage hearing even at long distance. 

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The toxic fumes and particulates enter the lungs of the operators--as well as people and pets walking by. Compounding this, greenhouse gases are also emitted from the mix of gas and oil--including CO2 at 11 pounds per 40 minutes of operation. Only 60% of the gas-oil mix is used, while the other 40% becomes carcinogenic fumes and tiny particulates that don't leave the lungs once inhaled. 4-stroke engines without catalytic converters are almost as toxic as 2-strokes--and both are by far more toxic on public health than any road vehicle or lawn tool. 

Those engines were banned from roads nationwide many decades ago - before gas blowers were on the radar. Thus, many towns, cities and even states are banning them.

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Those of us who are "bystanders" (neighbors, walkers, citizens) are exposed to risks for permanent hearing loss as well hypertension, cardiac issues, lung and blood cancer and other respiratory illnesses. Please review Mt. Sinai School of Medicine for more information on the public health impacts of gas blowers (Community Talk: Health Hazards of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers.)

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Children and elderly are most at risk to hearing damage and lung issues, say studies (CDC, Mt. Sinai, Harvard, others....

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The prolonged high-decibel noise roars on at up to 115 decibels – at least 10,000 times over safety limits. Unlike cars and trucks, these ear-deafening engines have no mufflers or catalytic converters to help contain the toxic noise and fumes.

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This is a serious public health issue now that these machines are ubiquitous in neighborhoods. In fact, all the data is based on one blower - while we are seeing multiple blowers on properties regularly.  

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There are viable alternatives to cleaning up leaves, though many of us know that "leaving the leaves" in garden beds provides nutrients to soil and plants. 

Listen to videos by landscapers who run clean and quiet lawn care companies. They talk about the ins and outs of transitioning from gas to battery lawncare, the brands, the technology, the PROFITABLE returns on investment when you no longer need to buy gas, oil and pay to clean carburetors and maintain blowers overall.  And, they say that they don't run them constantly (unlike gas blowers) because one can turn the engine on and off so easily.

 

Last year, the Rockport Board of Health voted unanimously in agreement with the public health impacts presented as a basis for the petition to phase out gas blowers.