Warning – New York Towns To Impose Ban On Use Of Leaf Blowers
Planning on firing up your gas-powered leaf blower to do some spring cleaning? Better think again, unless you want a $100 fine. According to WNTY NBC13, the town of Burlington, Vermont recently banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers and if 2 New York Senators have their way your Capital Region town might be next.
This legislation is currently 'in committee'. If this eventually passes anyone, including professional lawn-care workers and the people that hire them, could be fined up to $100 for using a gas-powered leaf blower between May 1st and September 30th.
There are 19 New York towns that already have similar bans in place. ABC7 New York reports that, the Village of Larchmont passed the first complete ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the Northeast, effective January 1, 2022. That means the people in that town might as well sell their blowers because you cannot use gas-powered blowers at anytime throughout the year.
Studies have shown that the fumes, dust and other emissions from a 2-stroke gasoline engine in one hour are comparable to that of 17 cars. Larchmont even limits electric leaf blowers to the month of April and again October thru December.
The Post Journal reports Sen. John Liu, D-Bayside, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx are the ones introducing the legislation.
Much of the work done by gas powered leaf and lawn blowers is often unnecessary, and can be done by more environmentally friendly tools, such as a mulching mower. This bill aims to cut down on the careless usage of leaf blowers by restricting its usage as a landscaping tool in the non-fall months,” Liu and Dinowitz said in their legislative justification.
With a quick look at Home Depot you will see a mulching mower costs around $200 brand new, or the price of 2 fines.