Transition Town Greater Media

Building Spirit, Building Resilience, Building Bridges

Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

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Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

A TTGM Partnership with the Media EAC

The Media EAC advised the Media Borough Council on the dangers of gas-powered leaf blowers and proposed that Council write an ordinance restricting their use in the Borough.

The primary concern is that the exhaust from the leaf blowers is highly toxic and detrimental to the school children on their way to school walking past landscapers or homeowners using this equipment. The ordinance that was passed banned the use of this equipment before 9AM Mondays through Fridays during the school year.

Mission Statement

To improve the lives of all residents by transitioning away from noisy and dirty gas leaf blowers and other lawn equipment that have two-stroke gasoline powered engines through education and legislation. 

Gas Leaf Blowers Create Particulate, Chemical, and Noise Pollution

  • A Ford F-150 Raptor driving 1,100 miles emits the same amount of air pollution as a half-hour of yard work with a two-stroke, gas-powered leaf blower (GPLB).
  • That air pollution can cause significant impact to the lungs and can cause asthma, lung cancer, and high blood pressure.
  • The World Health Organization has a daytime noise guideline of 55 decibels (dB). A worker operating a GPLB is exposed to significantly more noise; from 90 to 100 dB. 
  • Noise pollution created by GPLB carries over long distances, penetrates walls and is linked to hearing loss, agitation, and cardiovascular issues.
  • Allowing some leaves to remain where they fall protects some overwintering insects; returning mulched leaves to garden beds to act as fertilizer for plants and habitat for salamanders, snails, and toads.

Alternatives to Gas Leaf Blowers

  • Use electric blowers. They don’t pose the same dangers to the operators and the environment that GPLB do and they are less expensive than GPLB.
  • Old-fashioned raking of leaves where possible.
  • Replace part or all high-maintenance lawns with native plantings that do not require mowing or leaf removal.

Additional Information and Resources

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