Of course, gas-powered leaf blowers also spew climate-wrecking CO2, but their nitrogen oxide emissions have an outsized climate impact: The EPA estimates that one pound of nitrous oxide has almost 300 times as much global warming effect as a pound of carbon dioxide.
Create Toxic Fumes
Carbon dioxide (the leading cause of climate change) Fine and secondary inhalable particulates (contribute to pulmonary disease) Formaldehyde (carcinogen) Methane (another leading pollutant causing climate change)
The high-decibel noise pollution of a gas-powered leaf blower is not just obnoxious and disruptive; it can actually cause tinnitus and hearing loss for the workers who use them (or anyone who is close to one for a full hour).
Overall, raking and sweeping leaves is a more efficient way to clean sidewalks and streets than using a leaf blower because it eliminates the need for fuel consumption and noise pollution.
Use a broom or rake, the most economical. 2. Mulch leaves with the lawn mower - Mow over the leaves on your lawn. If you mulch the leaves finely, you can scatter them under bushes and trees for a winter groundcover.
Many cities have enacted municipal codes that prevent property owners from blowing leaves into the right-of-way. The action is considered illegal dumping and can carry fines up to $500 and/or six months of imprisonment, depending on the locale. Legal issues aside, there is the crucial matter of being neighborly.
Use nozzle attachments to reach high places. Do not use a leaf blower if you are tired or sick, taking medication, or if you have used drugs or alcohol.
Plan on mowing leaves instead of raking as part of your regular fall lawn maintenance. Start as soon as leaves begin to fall. Mowing a few leaves is simpler than mowing a lot, and dry leaves mulch better than wet ones.
Most of the time, however, you'll be doing your garden more harm than good by exceeding recommended speeds: rocks and dirt flying everywhere, destroyed grass and tears of dread. Treat leaf blowing the same way you would any other garden job. Take your time and do it right; Your lawn will appreciate the effort.
Ordinance Overview and Enforcement
No agent or person is permitted to use a gas-powered leaf blower. Property owners and homeowners are held responsible for compliance and will receive citations for violations, even if they are not the person using a gas-powered leaf blower on their property.
The force of wind GPLB creates can spread materials on the ground like mold, leaf litter, dirt, yard chemicals, and animal waste up into the air where particles can trigger additional health issues like asthma attacks, worsening allergies or COPD symptoms.
Gas-powered leaf blowers also expel fumes and pollutants like carbon monoxide. Both gas and electric blowers stir up particulate matter, dust, mold, pollen, and pathogen-containing bird and animal feces into the air that we (and insects and wildlife) breathe.
They fail to work in humid conditions and the high speed of fan is not comfortable. An air blower sometimes fails to work in poor ventilation. Air blowers are not as efficient and powerful as Air Conditioner Units. They are noisy and generally not recommended for the people suffering from Asthma.
As you engage your leaf blower, small particles of debris and dust will start to move around. These can easily make their way into your eye, which can be quite painful! Be sure to wear safety goggles to keep these irritants out. Next, wear a face mask.
Leaf blowers can save enormous amounts of time. When developing bids or price quotes, most landscape industry estimators work on the assumption that it takes four to five times as long to clean a typical landscape site with a broom and rake than it does with a power leaf blower.
First up: Grab your lawnmower! Set it to its highest setting and make a couple passes over your leaves and lawn to chop your leaves into small pieces that will be able to filter into the turf. This works better with dry vs. wet leaves.
Don't leave piles of heavy, wet clippings on the lawn. You need to rake them, or the grass underneath may be smothered. During periods of wet weather and excessive growth and you've missed a week or two of mowing, use a bagger to collect clipping.
Leave the leaves, or move them just a bit
Leaves are great for soil quality: they can suppress weeds, retain moisture, and boost nutrition. And perennial plants appreciate the extra insulation through the winter, too!
The blowers disturb and displace beneficial insects and critters important to healthy gardens and ecosystems. Many birds, for example, depend on the insects found in the leaf litter layer to feed their young.
Leaf blowers are faster and more efficient for clearing large areas of leaves and debris, while leaf vacuums are better for precision work and collecting debris in a bag. Leaf blowers are better for larger yards and tougher debris, while leaf vacuums are better for smaller yards and more delicate areas.
Leaf blowers aren't just noisy — they're also huge climate polluters. Gas-powered lawn equipment like leaf blowers and lawn mowers pollute a lot more than you might think.
"To be respectful to your neighbors, avoid leaf blowing and other loud yard work before 8 am on a weekday and 9 am on the weekend," says etiquette expert Jo Hayes.
To best support wildlife and soil health, experts say leaves should be left where they fall. A hearty leaf cover provides a habitat during the cold winter months for critical pollinating species such as bees, butterflies and moths.
It's against the law to deposit mud, dirt, or other debris upon streets and sidewalks. No refuse, trash, brush, leaves, tree or shrubbery trimmings shall be placed within the vehicular travel-way or in the gutter of any street. No one may place any refuse or trash upon or over any storm drain opening.