The Vineyard Conservation Society is leading the way to get regulations that would initially limit the time frames that landscapers could use gas-powered leaf blowers, before instituting a ban on the gas-powered machines by 2028.
The chorus of gas-powered leaf blowers that accompanies the hundreds of landscapers across the Island could be silenced in the coming years as conservationists look to ban the practice.
The Vineyard Conservation Society is leading the way to get regulations before annual town meetings in all six Island that would initially limit the time frames that landscapers could use gas-powered leaf blowers, before instituting a ban on the gas-powered machines by 2028.
So far, town committees in Chilmark, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs have drafted warrant articles on the issue, which the conservation society and other supporters say is important to cut down on the noise and pollution from leaf blowers.
“The bylaw is about confronting the real implications of constant gas-powered leaf blower use,” said Zada Clarke, the conservation society’s director of advocacy. “It’s about challenging the idea that constant noise is ‘the new normal’ and asking our entire community whether we want to continue sacrificing our collective quality of life and the health of our environment.”
Committees in all six towns are working on town meeting articles.
Committees in all six towns are working on town meeting articles.
The current proposed bylaws would limit all leaf blowing to the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, with stricter limits on the weekend. Also, gas-powered leaf blowers would be allowed only in the fall and spring clean-up seasons, from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, and from March 15 to May 31.
Violations could result in a $100 fine for the landscaper or homeowner. Subsequent violations could exact fines as high as $300.
The bylaw only extends to leaf blowers, and not other gas-powered landscaping equipment.
Landscaping is one of the most viable industries on Martha’s Vineyard, as multi-million-dollar homeowners look to have their yards pristine for their arrivals in the summer. According to federal labor statistics, there are more than 70 landscaping companies on the Island, and about 400 employees — about 4.4 per cent of the Island workforce.
The low barrier to entry has provided tremendous potential for upward mobility, and the push toward electric leaf blowers has been met with skepticism from some landscapers, who say they agree with the idea in theory, but the technology has not progressed far enough yet to implement it in practice.
During an information session about the bylaw in Edgartown on Tuesday, Chris DeMello, a landscaper with American Property Care, said some of the electric batteries take 400 minutes to charge, and, under perfect conditions, can run for about an hour and a half. Batteries for the electric blower can cost about $900.
“I’m going to have to have an awful lot of very expensive batteries,” Mr. DeMello said. “I’m going to have to charge overnight in my house and hope they don’t explode and catch fire.”
At a certain point, landscapers would have to wonder if it’s cheaper to take the fine, he said.
Proponents of the article said that they included the 2028 phase-out for gas-powered leaf blowers to give companies and individual owners time to transition to electric leaf blowers, while also allowing the manufacturer’s time to perfect the machines.
“We’ve researched equipment, rebate options and health and environmental threats,” Ms. Clarke said. “A lot of work has gone into ensuring our approach makes sense and that a bylaw can work for our entire Island community.”
Mark Sawers, an Edgartown resident who put forth the bylaw in his town, said leaf blowers are being targeted because of their surprisingly large amount of air pollution. Operating a typical two-stroke leaf blower for 30 minutes puts out as much air pollution as driving a modern Ford pickup truck for about 4,000 miles, he said.
Both the pollution and the noise can have ill-effects on people, and Nantucket has prohibited commercial landscapers from using gas-powered blowers.
“So much of this leaf blowing, it’s so freaking unnecessary,” said Carla Cooper, an Edgartown resident. “It’s wasteful...It’s so loud and they’re blowing nothing.”
Several landscapers said they felt that the seasonal limits were problematic as they didn’t always line up with when cleanup work actually takes place.
“Dec. 15 is kind of an aggressive target date to finish all of our cleanups,” said landscaper Alex Morrison. “I don’t like the noise either, it’s one of those tasks that we have to do.”
Others questioned the benefits of electric-power, saying the leaf blowers often have a shorter shelf life and would require several more battery packs to get the same amount of work done.
In an interview with the Gazette, Nikola Vasilic, the owner of Estate Care, said he’s converted some of his equipment to electric, wherever possible.
“There’s just not a strong enough alternative,” he said. “The customers are not willing to pay it yet.”
Mark Hess, the general manager of the Edgartown Golf Club, said he has to take care of 62 acres of golf course and the business uses a massive four-stroke blower to clear goose droppings and other debris.
“I think the landscapers here, I’m sensing, are willing to work with this,” he said. “I just thought some more thought needs to be put in the timeline.”
This isn’t the first time Islanders have tried to change the rules around leaf blowers. At last year’s town meeting in Edgartown, resident Sara Piazza submitted a petition article that would have banned commercial gas-powered leaf blowers in town that use two- or four-cycle gas engines.
At town meeting, some argued that the ban would hit small landscapers the hardest, and the article failed by a handful of votes.
Hoping to make it further this time around, Vineyard Conservation Society has done extensive outreach on the new proposals.
“The bylaw amplifies the rebates and resources available for landscapers and homeowners to make an equitable transition to electric lawn care equipment and reduce carbon emissions,” Ms. Clarke said.
Several landscapers said they were open to change, but weren’t sure if the current proposal was the best way forward.
“I think it’s a good idea, it’s a good direction,” said Mr. Vasilic. “We just have to be aware of the market . . . . We can’t make a switch too fast.”
Comments
Give it a break,what about
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownGive it a break,what about lawn mowers,motorcyles,loud cars,loud people,loud kids,loud music,chain saws.Can't people here stop whining about anything and everything. Machines make noise.And how does muffy and buffy plan on removing their leaves. Maybe with a rake,imagine them wielding a rake and doing real yard work!!!!!!
Gas blowers are effective but
Landscaper AquinnahGas blowers are effective but they are way overused. 20 years ago we used only rakes, tarps, and barrels. Now nobody wants to pick up a rake, they’d rather chase leaves around a yard into the wind with a blower. What it comes down to is that the new breed of homeowner is wrongly convinced that their property needs to be clinically void of leaves, which is actually antithetical to the natural biodiversity that leaf matter brings to lawns and gardens. Solution is to use electric blowers to get a majority of the leaves out of the beds, then either rake and tarp them up, and mow and mulch the leftovers into the lawn which is the best natural fertilizer that there is.
This person is thinking
Thank youThis person is thinking clearly and knows what they are talking about. Nothing wrong with a little rake work. Leaves are our friends and free mulch!
Thank you, landscaper.
virginia yorke AquinnahThank you, landscaper. "Natural fertilizer" is so much better. 8 A.M. on any day of the week is too early to hear or smell a gas leaf blower, how about never!
Nothing boils my blood more
Also a landscaperNothing boils my blood more than seeing 5 untrained "landscapers" on a site blowing leaves in opposite directions on a November day with 25mph winds.
A seasoned landscaper who knows how to use a rake will clean up leaves faster than the majority of the untrained landscapers we have on the island who are handed a blowers with zero directions 10/10 times.
I hope an island wide ban is
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsI hope an island wide ban is instituted. The noise and air pollution is incredibly offensive not to mention the dangerous health risks to people operating them day in and day out for the months of use. And when did it become standard to make yards and driveways to be spotless?! Natural debris nurtures the cycles of life.
Why is the use banned on
Tis Adult TisburyWhy is the use banned on Sundays? Didn't we already end all these silly religious Sunday blue law exemptions through the courts?
Sunday is the day where the
Jessica TisburySunday is the day where the least people work. Some would like to enjoy not listening to the constant whine of blowers when at home or on walks. Also banning them on Monday-Friday would have a greater impact on workers using them.
The summer provides a
Kurt Paulson EdgartownThe summer provides a symphony of lawn care equipment most of the day. I am not sure how banning blowers will help. I listen to lawn mowers and trimmers as much if not more than the blowers. The emissions argument is also not viable unless you consider all the equipment.
The only real solution I can see is a shift in the landscape business model. Home owners or co ops provide a full electric kit to contracted workers who use them. If that is too much then customers should expect to pay a premium for less noisy lawn care.
As someone who both hates the
Jon TisburyAs someone who both hates the sound of and uses back pack leaf blowers professionally, I'll be interested in how this pans out. They are over used almost to the point of abuse by some, but do significantly reduce the labor involved with bulk leaf clean ups. My company has gone battery powered with trimmers and saws, and handheld electric blowers are fine for most light jobs. I've looked into battery backpack blowers, they are heavy, expensive and the battery run time is short. Hopefully the technology will improve. I agree with the landscaper who noted Dec 15th is an early cut off date. While many of the leaves fell early this year due to the fall drought, often they are on the trees until late November.
Are you aware of the battery
Tis Adult TisburyAre you aware of the battery packs you wear in a removable backpack arrangement?
A nice lightweight electric cord and motor makes the system even more comfortable and still quiet
I'm quite aware of what is
Jon TisburyI'm quite aware of what is available in the way of electric yard appliances, having adopted battery power for my business wherever it has been practical. Currently battery tools we use include string trimmers, chain saws, hedge machines, hand held blowers, trim mowers and a brick saw. The high volume battery back pack blowers need more development to practically replace the gas powered ones. I look forward to the time when they will, it will probably require some advancement in battery technology.
Just to emphasize not thing
Hugh Weisman ChilmarkJust to emphasize not thing in the article regarding air pollution. That was from a 2011 study by Edmunds which said
“To equal the hydrocarbon emissions of about a half-hour of yard work with this two-stroke leaf blower, you’d have to drive a [Ford] Raptor for 3,887 miles, or the distance from Northern Texas to Anchorage, Alaska.” That's pretty incredible. I don't know, but it would stand to reason that large 4 stroke blowers are significantly less polluting and less noisy than 2 stroke.
These gas powered leaf
Lorraine EdgartownThese gas powered leaf blowers are a pox on all humanity. There is NO excuse to use these on a windy island. The leaves blow back in a matter of minutes/hours. Why, oh, why, please tell me why people want their yards and gardens to look like a putting green? Leaves fulfil a basic purpose of mulching and they break down into soil over the long term. We simply must get a handle on the mistreatment of our island, the constant over use of blowers, chemicals, constant and unnecessary gardening activity, is ruining our ponds with run off, our senses with hideous noises, and the frenetic activity of non stop gardening activities in our towns, with machines, huge trucks, and all of the other blowback issues. Try to snuggle down with a good book and an afternoon of cogitating and then comes the roar of the machines. Ugh. Please realize some of us are not garden proud. IMHO
In a story I wrote and
Nelson Sigelman Vineyard HavenIn a story I wrote and published in Martha’s Vineyard Magazine (mvmagazine.com/news/2021/10/14/blown-away), I cited a study “Characteristics of Lawn and Garden Equipment Sound: A Community Pilot Study,” published in the Journal of Environmental and Toxicological Studies in November 2017, that said, “Most commercial-grade gas-powered leaf blowers used in the United States are powered with inefficient two-stroke engines, housed in lightweight metal that offers little sound insulation, and run at three times the speed of an automobile engine (9,000 rpm) producing a loud, monotonous sound. Many people have described the sound as intolerable.”
Researchers found that the sound emitted from gas leaf blowers has low frequency and tonal components, and “the ability of low-frequency sound to travel long distances and penetrate building walls may explain the intolerability of this sound source to people in the community.”
Add to that, the silly notion that an outdoor space should resemble an indoor carpet.
Sounds like some of these
Charlie Callahan So Boston/EdgartownSounds like some of these people should live in a bubble with Mozart playing a fiddle or whatever he played
Fantastic idea, but the whole
Ken Rusczyk OBFantastic idea, but the whole island should limit the use of gasoline powered leaf blowers AND weed wackers.
The fines should start at $200.
$100 doesn't buy you a hamburger in Edgartown.
It’s simple. The older you
Age old issue TisburyIt’s simple. The older you get the more you detest noise. Any noise. Grandkids are fine for a few hours, but happy to return them back to the parents, who are younger. Same thing with 12 hour a day leaf blowers. They’re just annoying. Doesn’t matter what day of the week it is or what time of the day, they are annoying. There’s no reason why we can’t do battery power with leaf blowers. Phase them in stop whining and stop trying to cover up the issue with carbon emissions! How did the people in California feel about losing 10,000 structures and hearing that their gas powered car was the problem!
Ah for the good old days when
Joe Buti BostonAh for the good old days when you could burn leaves. Not a leaf blower in sight then.
The sound of a bamboo leaf
Vasha Brunelle Vineyard HavenThe sound of a bamboo leaf rake pulling leaves across the lawn, the crispy swishing noise the leaves make, the smell of fallen leaves, and a great big pile of leaves to jump into are things not so valued and this is very sad.
With all the advancements in
John Cape CodWith all the advancements in everything as time has progressed it should be possible to engineer quieter running machines. Manufacturers of all outdoor equipment should be required to re-engineer their products to produce less noise which should be possible to do, as well to produce less air emissions. This has been accomplished with automobiles with increased fuel economy and much lower emissions since the Arab oil embargo in the early seventies. As far as electric yard equipment goes, they are severely underpowered, have expensive batteries that can catch fire, have a short run time and unless major improvements are made to them, they are of no use to a landscaper who has to service many clients per day.
Hmm - John, I have Ryobi
Carol formerly ChilmarkHmm - John, I have Ryobi equipment (leaf blower, lawnmower, trimmer/hedger & weedwhacker) - they all use the same interchangeable batteries, the batteries do NOT catch fire (urban myth, that one), and they are not expensive. All of them are significantly more quiet than their gas-powered counterparts, as my neighbors have approvingly observed. All a landscaper has to do is charge the batteries overnight, then bring extra charged batteries with them - takes me two batteries to do my big front yard.
I think all blowers scouts be
T.C. S. Water Edgartown, MaI think all blowers scouts be band.
Weekend mornings u am awakened to this Hid awful noise! Sometime 3-5 blowers at a time.
Maybe restrict to hours 12pm-3pm? Just a thought.
This ban is a start and a
Jenny EdgartownThis ban is a start and a good one with a generous time line for conversion. Electric blowers are improving each year. Using electric blowers will reduce air and noise pollution for residents, visitors, and landscape workers. In phasing out gas-powered landscape equipment, everyone will be working to improve the quality of people's lives and the future of human life on our planet.
This restriction and final
Jane |EdgartownThis restriction and final ban by 2028 is sensible and gives the landscapers time to switch their machines, which would need upgrading by then anyway, and for the technology to improve as well. The two-stroke engine found in most consumer gas-powered leaf blowers is an outmoded technology. Unlike larger, heavier engines, a two-stroke engine combines oil and gas in a single chamber, which gives the machine more power while remaining light enough to carry. That design also means that as much as a third of the fuel is spewed into the air as unburned aerosol, emitting fine particles leading to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues and premature death . Instruction manuals warn of the dangers. Hardly any of us have boats with 2 stroke engines anymore for a good reason. As we read of the tragic fires in CA, we need to take climate change more seriously and accept the financial costs and view of leaves on our lawns willingly.
The noise from gasoline-powered leaf blowers disrupts tranquillity and does menace public health. Blowers generate between 90-100 decibels of low-frequency, wall-penetrating sound, which is almost as loud as a jet flyover at a sporting event and far beyond the 65-level considered safe within 50 feet. Studies have shown that such loud noise can not only cause tinnitus and hearing loss with long exposure to those working close to the machines but impact people within a wide hearing range by causing a stress responses, and “that’s a first line response that sets off in the body a physiological cascade that ends up resulting in damage to the blood vessels, which can cause or contribute to a lot of different diseases, be it heart disease, stroke, metabolic disturbances, and on and on,” said Jamie Banks, a health care and environmental scientist based in Lincoln. There is even evidence that such excessive noise can bring on atrial fibrillation. Is this the sort of risk we condone for workers and residents alike? It's time to go electric!
How about this as a start:
Michael ChilmarkHow about this as a start:
If your neighbor uses a gas blower, knock on the door and offer to buy them an electric model.
Or to avoid a certain time of day.
Won’t impact the noise from commercial usage but might still improve the situation
Civility is a cheap intervention.
There is a perfectly suited
Rose Katama and BostonThere is a perfectly suited tool available . . . a rake.
I would be glad to pay for the additional number of hours raking might require given the astounding amount of pollution gas leaf blowers emit.
The blowers assault our ears and lungs . . . this is more than sufficient reason to eliminate their use.
The proposed fines aren't
JimThe proposed fines aren't high enough. I note at least one landscaper is already publicly threatening to ignore the law.
Add new comment