(Image courtesy Burst)

If you’re considering ways to keep your home and yard looking their best — while also doing your part to help the planet — you’re not alone. However, you might not be able to use Gas Blowers anymore.

Recently, some municipalities in the DC area have decided to curb or prohibit the use of gas blowers in an effort to alleviate pollution and noise, and depending on where you live, these new measures could be something for which you might need to be aware if they require you to change up some of your equipment for lawn maintenance.

Much like the push to switch from petroleum-based to electric vehicles, there is momentum for moving toward cleaner energy tools for the home, and gas blowers are among the first to be phased out.

Gas Blowers for Leaves are Going Away Soon

The Fairfax County government, for example, recently announced its intention to move away from gas blowers for county facility use due to the noise and pollution they create. County staff will be preparing plans to discontinue the purchase and use of gas-powered leaf blowers, instead switching to electric ones. 

“I’m thrilled that Fairfax County is moving forward to create a cleaner and quieter community by phasing out our use of gas-powered leaf blowers,” Fairfax County Supervisor James R. Walkinshaw said in a statement. “We can jumpstart the transition from dirty and noisy gas-powered blowers. This initiative sends a strong signal to landscaping contractors that now is the time to invest in cleaner equipment.”

Going a step further, the Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act of 2018 went into effect on January 1, 2022 in the District of Columbia. This law prohibits the use of gas blowers throughout the District of Columbia for city workers and landscapers as well as for private residents maintaining their own lawns with yard equipment. 

A previous DC law, which was mainly to combat noise pollution, required noise readings, but now all gas-powered blowers are strictly prohibited, with a process in place for neighbors to report on violations. 

Companies or individuals that use gasoline-powered leaf blowers in DC after January 1, 2022 will be subject to fines of up to $500 for each offense. 

The phasing out and prohibition of gas-powered leaf blowers is a step in mitigating both noise levels and hydrocarbons contributing to ozone depletion. According to a study by automotive resource Edmunds, a gas-powered leaf blower can create more pollutants than a pickup truck, and creates noise levels above that which can cause hearing damage.