Norwalklandscapersdecrying gas-powered leaf blower ban win small victory

Jul. 20—Committee members added the provision after hearing concerns from landscapers about the cost and technological challenge of implementing the ban so soon. The landscapers spoke during a Tuesday public hearing, which exceeded an hour and also included experts' testimonies on negative environmental and health effects of the gas-powered devices.

Tom Robidoux, owner of Robidoux Landscaping, said he felt a shift to electric leaf blowers, powered by lithium-ion batteries, would burden customers.

"Are we for technology advancing?" Tom Robidoux said. "Yes. Will the cost to take care of your property go up? Absolutely."

He estimated a 50 to 70 percent cost increase.

Margaret "Lisa" Shanahan, the chairperson of the committee and member of the Common Council, said the drafted ordinance aims to support the health of residents and the environment, while addressing small business and community concerns.

"We turned our attention to researching products and realistic timetables to making a transition to a less noise- and ear-polluting alternative," Shanahan said.

Proposed rules

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The ordinance would ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers on properties of 2 acres or less by 2027 and on properties larger than 2 acres by 2028.

By Sept. 1 of this year, owners and operators of "gardening, landscape maintenance, or similar service[s]" would need to require employees to wear ear and respiratory protections.

Business owners and individuals would be limited on when they could use leaf blowers, beginning Sept. 1, 2024.

The draft permits leaf blower use Monday through Friday, except state and federal holidays, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays and state and federal holidays.

These leaf blower hours are only permitted from April 1 to June 1 and from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15 each year, according to the draft language.

Gas-powered leaf blower risks

The committee invited Dr. Sarah Evans of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to discuss health risks of gas-powered leaf blowers.

"We are breathing in dirty air on a regular basis and adding to those air pollutants is not really a great idea," she said.

Evans discussed increased anxiety and rates of depression from exposure to loud gas-powered leaf blowers, which can reach 80 to 90 decibels and cause hearing damage.

In her presentation, she stated that one in 10 deaths of children under 5 is caused by air pollution.

Some proponents of the ordinance encouraged a sooner date for the ban, citing environmental concerns.

Nicole Rivard, editor-in-chief and media/government relations point person at Friends of Animals, advocated a shorter timeline.

"It is outrageous to let an angry mob of commercial landscapers decide whether our communities must breathe in polluted air," she said virtually, following in-person public comments that opposed the ban.

'Not in touch with the real world'

Most speakers in the public hearing were landscapers or related landscaping professionals opposed the draft. They and some committee members cited a lack of technological advancement needed to power electric leaf blowers by 2027 and 2028. Landscapers said they are worried lithium-ion batteries in green leaf blowers would increase the risk of fires or explosions.

Joe Robidoux, of Robidoux Landscaping, echoed this sentiment.

"This is me, as the next generation, saying we embrace green technology, battery-powered stuff, all that kind of advancement in that field," said Joe Robidoux, whose father owns the company. "[But the] technology is not matching the timeline."

Kevin Palinkas, president of Connecticut Lawn Equipment, Inc. said the ordinance is unreasonable.

"Whoever has come up with this idea that the gas engines have to go and be replaced by this battery stuff is not in touch with the real world," Palinkas said.

Nora Niedzielski-Eichner, a member of the committee, recognized the landscaper's technological concerns, and proposed the language that the Common Council will hear next Tuesday. The ordinance committee next meets 7 p.m. Aug. 15.

She said if the committee and city does not put a tentative "flag in the sand" to set goals for switching to electric leaf blowers, the work will not get done.

Joshua Goldstein, who sits on the committee, emphasized that — should the new language be approved — the committee and council would revisit the timeline for the ban in 2026 to see whether the timeline needs to be pushed back.

"The only immediate effects of the ordinance are the times [of operation] and a requirement for protective equipment, which a lot of you already do anyway," Goldstein said, addressing the landscapers.