DC considers gas-powered leaf blower ban

Above: Photo courtesy of © MCCAIG | iStockphoto

WASHINGTON (ABC7) – D.C. council members are considering a gas-powered leaf blower ban, according to ABC 7 News - WJLA based in D.C. The bill, introduced by Ward 3 council member Mary Cheh, would prohibit the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers in the district starting in 2022.

According to ABC 7 News - WJLA, the ban would force residents and businesses to transition to battery-powered leaf blowers. ABC 7 News - WJLA reported that residents like that battery-powered blowers are much quieter.

However, D.C.-based landscape contractors argued that electric leaf blowers have less power and take longer to complete jobs compared to gas-powered versions. Bob Mann, director of government relations for the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), also argued that this legislation is too broad.

“I think it’s much better to ask for the operators to use modern equipment and use it responsibly and have courtesy toward your neighbors than it is to just ban things outright,” he told ABC 7 News - WJLA.

Click here to see NALP's testimony in response to D.C.’s proposed gas-powered leaf blower ban.

Click here to read the full story from ABC 7 News - WJLA.