The two hour conference brought together municipal, regional, and national leaders who are transitioning their communities to cleaner, quieter landcare practices. Discover what it takes to make change happen, the opportunities and challenges, and the importance of collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

California has become the first state to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers and small off-road engines by enacting Assembly Bill 1346. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law requires zero emissions for these engines by 2024 and allocates $30 million to help landscaping businesses transition to zero-emission equipment.

The article highlights the growing trend of electric lawn care equipment in the U.S., driven by a desire for quieter and more eco-friendly solutions. Communities like Mountain Brook, Alabama, are transitioning to electric tools to reduce noise and emissions, despite higher initial costs and some performance challenges. The shift is gaining momentum nationwide, with figures like Jamie Banks of Quiet Communities advocating for widespread adoption to maximize environmental benefits.

This study compares noise from gas-powered leaf blowers (GLBs) and battery-powered leaf blowers (BLBs), revealing significant differences in sound levels and impact on community health. GLBs are found to be much louder, particularly in low-frequency noise, which can transmit over long distances and through home windows, causing greater disruption than BLBs. The study suggests that transitioning to BLBs can mitigate health risks posed by GLBs' noise and emissions, advocating for policy changes to prioritize public and worker health.

The Town of Southampton, NY transitioned all its municipal operations to battery electric technology, creating the first AGZA Green Zone® community in the Northeast, and engaging the business community.

Arup conducted tests on three gas and four battery-powered leaf blowers to assess their noise impact. The results revealed that gas leaf blowers produce a significantly higher low-frequency sound component, which travels further and penetrates home windows more easily, making them noticeably louder indoors and contributing to greater noise disturbance in the community compared to battery leaf blowers.

Jamie Banks, Executive Director of Quiet Communities, supported Bill 22-234, which regulates gas leaf blowers (GLBs) in Washington, D.C. She emphasized the health risks of GLBs, including noise pollution and emissions affecting vulnerable populations, and advocated for battery-powered leaf blowers (BLBs) as a cleaner, quieter alternative. Her testimony urged prompt legislative action to improve air quality and community well-being.

Dr. Daniel Fink, Board Chair of The Quiet Coalition, submitted a statement to the D.C. City Council supporting the Leaf Blower Amendment Act of 2017 (Bill No. 22-234). He warned that gas-powered leaf blower noise poses serious health risks, including hearing loss and other health issues, and noted that its low-frequency sound travels further and impacts more residents than battery-powered alternatives.

The study examines noise pollution from over 11 million gas-powered leaf blowers in the U.S., which often exceed WHO noise standards up to 800 feet. The noise, surpassing 100 decibels due to low-frequency sound, affects health and communities. These findings support noise restrictions and suggest that standard decibel measurements are more accurate than A-weighted ones.

The article highlights the health risks and pollution from gas-powered leaf blowers, which emit toxic pollutants. Workers face health issues from exposure, and despite regulations pushing for electric alternatives, industry resistance persists. Advocacy groups like Quiet Communities, founded by Jamie Banks, are working to promote the transition to electric equipment to reduce health and environmental impacts.

The article by Stuart Silverstein and Anne Boiko-Weyrauch discusses the pollution and health risks from gas-powered leaf blowers, highlighting emissions of toxic substances like benzene and ultrafine particles that pose serious health risks, particularly to landscaping workers. Jamie Banks, founder of Quiet Communities, is mentioned for advocating against noise and emissions from such equipment. Efforts to switch to electric equipment are growing, supported by incentives in some regions to promote cleaner alternatives.

Noise measurements of 496 lawn mowers were made at 25 feet and at the operator’s ear between 2004 and 2017. In total, more than 2,000 different measurements were made. Several trends in lawn mower noise were observed. 1) Newer electric lawn mowers are significantly quieter and perform better than the older ones. 2) Newer gas powered walk mowers may be a decibel quieter. 3) Ride-on mower noise levels are pretty much unchanged and dependent on the size of the engine. 4) Compared to EPA noise measurements of mowers from 1973, very little progress has been made quieting mowers.

The Massachusetts Medical Society report highlights the health risks of gasoline-powered leaf blowers (GLBs), including hearing loss and respiratory issues, especially for vulnerable populations. It recommends adopting policies to recognize noise pollution as a public health hazard and encourages efforts to reduce GLB emissions. The report also calls for informing municipalities about these risks as they consider regulating or banning GLBs.

The City of South Pasadena became the nation's first AGZA Green Zone® City, transitioning all park and median maintenance to emission-free equipment to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution. This shift is expected to avoid over 31 tons of pollutants annually, benefiting public health and setting a precedent for sustainable urban practices.

GPT-4o

The study by Jo Anne G. Balanay and colleagues examined noise exposure among groundskeepers at three North Carolina universities. It found that many workers are exposed to noise levels above the safe limit of 85 dBA, especially when using equipment like riding mowers and leaf blowers. The study highlights the need for hearing conservation programs and noise reduction strategies, such as managing equipment use and adopting engineering controls.

The Medical Society of the State of New York adopted a resolution calling on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and gas leaf blower manufacturers to create guidelines that significantly reduce toxic emissions and noise levels. Additionally, the Society encourages the promotion of non-polluting alternatives to gas leaf blowers. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the American Medical Association for consideration.

Small off-road engines (SORE), used primarily for lawn, garden, and other equipment, have a population in California comparable to that of passenger cars. Despite making up only 8% of SORE, commercial lawn equipment accounts for 20% of smog emissions during summer. Running a commercial mower for an hour emits pollution equal to driving a new car 300 miles, while a leaf blower equates to 1,100 miles. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has significantly reduced SORE emissions since 1990 but projects that by 2031, SORE emissions will double those of passenger cars. To address this, CARB aims for zero emissions from off-road equipment by 2035, with new standards and incentives in development.

The study by Jamie L. Banks and Robert McConnell examines emissions from gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment in the U.S., highlighting their significant contribution to air pollution, particularly VOCs and fine particulates from two-stroke engines. These emissions pose health risks, prompting calls for better reporting and policies to reduce impact and promote cleaner alternatives.

The letter to the Eastchester Town Board supports a ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers and restrictions on internal combustion tools from May 15 to September 15. Signed by health professionals from the Mount Sinai Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, it emphasizes the health risks, particularly to children, from harmful pollutants, excessive noise, and potential eye injuries. The authors urge the Board to act to protect community health and improve respiratory wellness.

The San Luis Obispo Grand Jury report highlights the health hazards of two-cycle gasoline leaf blowers, which produce significant emissions, toxic exhaust, and high noise levels. These blowers emit pollutants equivalent to a car driven 200 miles in one hour. The report recommends a gradual phase-out in favor of cleaner alternatives like electric blowers or manual tools. The Grand Jury calls for county and city regulations to mitigate health risks and improve quality of life.