Op-Ed: The Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ban

by Fred Bartels -

I’m writing regarding the Village of Mamaroneck's ban on gas-powered leaf blowers that went into effect on May 15th, 2024.  See HERE. This ban was enacted because these machines create significant noise and air pollution that negatively impacts all of us, perhaps especially the workers using them.

Many communities are banning gas-powered leaf blowers and it is a very positive step that Mamaroneck has taken.  However, I’ve been quite disappointed by the lackluster efforts of homeowners and lawn services to comply with the law, and by the village's efforts to enforce it.  On an almost daily basis, except in the winter, it is common to find lawn services using gas leaf blowers.

The village police, to their credit, will respond if a violation of the ban is reported.  However, if the police took a proactive approach to enforcing this law, by driving around neighborhoods during working hours, they would have no trouble finding people violating the ban.  The extremely loud noise the leaf blowers create when in use makes it easy to find them.  Doing this for a few weeks might quickly bring lawn services into compliance.

Increasing numbers of homeowners and lawn services have made the expenditure and effort to comply with the new law by purchasing and using electric blowers.  How is it fair to these folks that the village is making so little effort to encourage those who are openly flaunting the law to come into compliance?

Noise and air pollution are huge issues in densely populated communities like Mamaroneck. They significantly impact the quality of our lives.  The snarling noise of gas blowers travels long distances, and in neighborhoods with hundreds of homes the noise pollution from blowers can be nearly constant in the warmer months of the year.  The lawn services may not like the ban, but the quality of village life shouldn’t be degraded to keep the lawn services happy. Mamaroneck has shown the wisdom to enact a pollution ban that can improve life in the village.  What we seem to be lacking is the willingness to make that improvement happen.

Fred Bartels is a retired educator and 40 year Village resident with a keen interest in helping the village become a more sustainable and resilient community.