A phase-out plan for gas-powered leaf-flowers is being studied by our town’s Board of Health.
Learn about this issue and let our town officials know that you support the phase-out.
Email the Select Board Chair (kcoughlin@natickma.org) and your Town Meeting Representatives. Find their email addresses here.
READ ON ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE HEALTHIER AIR AND LESS NOISE POLLUTION IN OUR TOWN.
Gas powered leaf blowers are big polluters considering their small size.
Using a commercial leaf blower for an hour emits as much pollution as driving a standard car 1100 miles.
A 2023 report released by the US Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG) documented that, in 2020, lawn and garden equipment in the U.S. emitted more than 21,800 tons of fine particulates – an equivalent amount to the pollution from 234 million typical cars. Middlesex County, Massachusetts is among the top one third of all US Counties for lawn care related pollution. Let’s change that!
LET’S HAVE HEALTHIER AIR IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
The type of air pollution emitted by gas-powered leaf blowers contains a large amount of particulate matter and other pollutants. Particulate pollution is extremely dangerous and is a known cause of a range of health problems including cardiovascular disease. Volatile organic compounds and Nitrogen Oxide, both emitted from gas powered leaf blowers create ground-level ozone, which has been linked to both asthma and premature death. Benzene and Formaldehyde, known carcinogens are also released in leaf blower exhaust.
LET’S REDUCE NOISE POLLUTION
The noise from gas-powered leaf blowers exceeds World Health Organization acceptable levels even several hundred feet away from the source. The low frequency noise easily penetrates walls and creates noise related stress that has been linked to real health impacts, including heart attacks, strokes, and cognitive impairment.
Other MA towns who have adopted regulation of gas-powered leaf blowers:
Acton
Arlington
Belmont
Brookline
Cambridge
Concord
Lexington
Marblehead
Newton
Swamscott
Winchester