City Standards Committee Blocks Leaf Blower Ban

Despite continued pleas from environmentalists, the sounds of gasoline powered leaf blowers will continue to be heard across the GTA for the foreseeable future.

On Friday, the city’s standards committee voted down a bid to ban the loud and environmentally threatening tools during the spring and summer months.

The motion was initially put forth by Councillor Michael Walker, who wanted to do away with leaf blowers, suggesting it was a necessary move if Toronto is serious about cracking down on greenhouse gas emissions as Mayor David Miller maintains.

Environmentalists trumped the move, but the standards committee blocked further consideration of Walker’s motion, preventing it from even reaching council.

“They pollute at almost 500-times the rate of a car,” warns Keith Stewart of the World Wildlife Fund.

“So if you’re running your leaf blower for an hour it’s like driving your car for a couple of days.”

Councillors Denzil Minnan-Wong, Rob Ford and Mike Del Grande joined together to block the motion, while Walker’s sole support came from Councillor Howard Moscoe.

The decision was based largely on the testimony of manufacturers that argued the machines have come a long way and are much more noise and energy efficient than they have traditionally been.

Opponents say rakes can do the same job without polluting the air, but people in the landscaping industry insist the additional time it would take to do their jobs without blowers, particularly on large properties, would force them to double prices and potentially put them out of business.

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Here’s a look at what the city itself discovered about the emissions from the gardening tools when it did its own study on the subject in 2001.

Most leaf blowers use two stroke gasoline powered engines, among the worst kind out there. They may be small but the amount of garbage they spew into the air is a lot more than their size would suggest.

What’s in all those fumes? Try hydrocarbons (a key component of smog), carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter and other toxic air contaminants.

In fact, according to the study, leaf blowers are seen to be more polluting than a new car.

According to their figures, one hour of operating a commercial leaf blower emits an incredible 498 times as much hydrocarbons, 49 times as much particulate matter and 26 times as much carbon monoxide as your average automobile.

And it’s not just what comes out of the engine that’s a problem.

Wind blows around a lot of the dust raised by the machines, which can also carry residue from fecal material, pollen, fungal spores and any pesticides that people are no longer supposed to use in the city but often still do.

And many of us breathe all that in without even being aware it’s there.

The experts contend that’s a lot worse than all that noise that also comes with the wind generators. And that’s why they want them banned for good.

How will you get rid of all those leaves? They suggest you use the old fashioned method – a rake and a little elbow grease.

Source: 2001 City of Toronto Study (.pdf file)