NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here.
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Dear Editor,
As New Canaanites enjoy our backyards on this quiet Memorial Day afternoon, the town seems to be breathing a collective sigh of thanks to our Town Council, for passing by overwhelming majority one of the most important quality-of-life ordinances yet: a restriction on commercial gas-powered leaf blowers during the height of summer, from June 1 through Labor Day. Commercial electric-powered leaf blowers can of course still be used all summer.
The ordinance enables homeowners to continue using gas-powered blowers on patios, pool areas, tennis courts and driveways, and lets the town continue using gas-powered blowers for storm clean-up, emergencies, and other necessary situations, while overall creating quieter streets, cleaner air, and healthier working conditions during the months when people most want to enjoy being outside.
To understand why the switch to electric leaf blowers will be such an improvement, it’s important to know about the type of sound and pollution gas-powered leaf blowers produce, compared to electric.
Gas-powered leaf blowers spew out one-third of the contents of their gas tanks, aerosolizing the gas itself along with the burned fuel exhaust. The toxic contents of the tank ends up in the air, and on the lawn. Landscaping crews are exposed daily to this discharge, which is linked to asthma, heart disease and cancer.
Electric leaf blowers produce a high-frequency sound that is easily blocked by building assemblies and dissipates rapidly through the air. Gas-powered leaf blowers, on the other hand, emit a pervasive rumble at a lower frequency. Sound at longer wavelengths travels far and broadly, and easily penetrates physical barriers like doors and windows.
Also, gas-powered leaf blowers stay on continuously – and the noise unending while a crew is working — because to restart one, a worker has to remove the backpack and pull a starter handle etc. Electric blowers can remain off, because they can be switched on the moment the operator needs. It will make sense to keep them inactive to preserve battery life.
Many homeowners are happy to allow landscapers to charge batteries using outdoor electrical outlets while they are working. The electricity cost to recharge a battery is minimal. And for many landscapers, transition to electric is already underway. Companies working in nearby towns with similar restrictions have been adapting for years.
We have been needlessly enduring maintenance regimes that degrade the livability of our community. There is another way, one our neighboring communities all through Westchester and Fairfield County have chosen. Like so many residents, I am thankful we in New Canaan are joining them in opting for a better quality of daily life.
Jill LaGattuta
It’s outstanding that we as a town continue to be a leader and forward thinking on health and environmental issues, while thoughtfully considering the various stakeholders. This ordinance is sorely needed, and we should be proud as a town that we tackled it and took this important step rather than kicking the can down the road. Kudos to the many residents and members of our town council who worked tirelessly to accomplish this.
Well said, Jill! I strongly agree and look forward to more peaceful days outside this summer.
Hello, I read yesterday’s article and the linked ordinance and I cannot find anything that says the gas-powered blowers can still be used on patios, pool areas, and driveways as this letter states in paragraph 2.
Deb – it states that residents can use gas blowers on hard surfaces – walkways , driveways etc..
Well stated, Jill. We’ll have peace and quiet’s and we won’t be polluting our air, and most important, we won’t be paying to damage the health of landscape workers.
A well written letter Jill which just about says it all.
If I may add a few points: the ordinance subcommittee has discussed a partial ban on leaf blowers on and off for around four years and has worked this ordinance for almost a year. Since last June they have held five open meetings at which the public were able to express their views, which they took into account in fine-tuning the draft ordinance. In addition the town council held a public hearing last month on the proposed ordinance. No one can reasonably say that this was sprung on them at the last minute.
I attended and spoke at all of these ordinance subcommittee meetings. The majority of speakers wanted a summertime ban. I did not, and I am sure many who spoke out have not, written to the town council. We talk to council members formally and informally and express our views that way. So the 2% who wrote emails to the council, that was mentioned by one council member, is very misleading as a measure of support.
Also, in the summertime town workers use leaf blowers to blow off debris from hard surfaces, just as residents are allowed to do under the ordinance – no difference. The exemptions are modeled on ordinances of other towns.
To those who do not mind sitting outdoors during the summer listening to the incessant sound of two stroke leaf blowers used by landscaping companies – mostly to blow cut grass on our lawns, as the leaves are not falling – I say spare a thought for the health of the workers who use these machines. The serious health consequences of exposure to two stroke motors are well documented yet most of these workers seem unaware as they do not even wear eye, hearing or breathing protection while they are subject to the toxic fumes up close hour after hour, day after day. GLB’s were never intended for continuous use.
Until we expand the ordinance users will be subject to the toxic emissions in the spring and the fall but will benefit from the three month break in summer. Unfortunately the owners of these companies are either not aware either or do not care about the health of their employees. We should care. For me, as much as anything, this ordinance is about protecting the health of everyone who lives or works in our community. Surely it is our duty to follow the lead of neighboring towns.
Rob Fryer
I am INCREDIBLY grateful for the ban!