The devices release as much air pollution as driving 1,100 miles and have been banned in over 100 U.S. cities.
The Baltimore city council voted to outlaw gas-powered leaf blowers in the city, citing pollution concerns, reports Alyssa Ochs for The Cool Down. “The new ban will reduce air and noise pollution in local neighborhoods as these items of lawn care equipment are phased out citywide.” City contractors will stop using gas blowers after December 15 of this year, while residents and landscaping companies have until 2025 and 2026, respectively, to end their use.
According to council member Lisa Rodvien, leaf blowers and other gas-powered lawn care equipment account for 4 to 5 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Ochs notes that over 100 other cities around the country have banned the devices to reduce localized air pollution and noise. The devices release four times as much air pollution as lawnmowers and are linked to health problems including cancer, reproductive harm, and asthma.
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