Gas-powered leaf blowers and other lawn equipment have been a longstanding source of discussion for the City of Dallas. Many organizations have cited several statistics as to why leaf blowers and other gas-motorized power tools should be banned.
Concerns on the use of this equipment range from the impact on the environment with pollution and harmful particles to the noise they create. Dallas’ Committee for Quality of Life has been discussing these issues since 2019, as pointed out by the Dallas Observer.
The topic has now resurfaced, and Dallas Councilwoman Paula Blackmon shared that the city council will take another look at a potential ban.
Last week, the Downwinders at Risk, an environmental advocacy group, held a virtual event to discuss how to get the city of Dallas to ban leaf blowers.
On their Facebook page, the group expressed their interest in banning two-stroke leaf blowers. They cite that pollution contributes to heart disease, hypertension, and cognitive impairment, but do not mention the specific effect that leaf blowers have on pollution. The group also noted its impact on children, the elderly, and asthmatic workers.
Andrew Bray, the vice president of government relations for the National Association of Landscape Professionals, recently spoke out on gas–powered lawn tools that several states have banned or plan to phase out.
“The transition to electricity is inevitable, and most landscapers are testing this equipment all the time,” Andrew Bray told the Associated Press. “But while the technology is already available to homeowners, and I use electrical equipment at home myself, the technology is not yet available to most of the commercial sector.”
California has plans to stop the sale of gas–powered leaf blowers and lawn equipment by the year 2024.
The Dallas City Council is said to be currently reviewing the potential ban.