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Another US city bans landscapers from using leaf blowers

Posted by Gary RK on October 27, 2010 at 7:53pm in Health and Safety

A 'major' Californian city has voted to ban landscapers using petrol powered leaf blowers on city owned land and has placed operating hours restrictions/usage on residential properties:

 

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101021/ARTICLES/10211116/1350?Title=Sonoma-bans-leaf-blowers-on-city-land-for-year

 

Note the low noise levels (90dba) also in force when you do use them.

 

This is not the first City in the US to ban these, along with a number of Cities banning pesticide/lawn treatments due to issues with the water table (leaching, high nitrate levels etc etc)

 

What next - lawnmowers?

 

What do you think ?

 

Could we see this happen here in a few years ?

 

If so, what would this mean to you and how would you cope ?

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Tags: bans, blowers, noise, pesticides
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Replies

  • PRO
    Phil Voice October 27, 2010 at 7:59pm
    I've cleared whole golf fairways by hand and believe it or not, it's quite therapeutic :)

    Any ban in the UK will have commercial implications though.
  • PRO
    Gary RK October 27, 2010 at 8:03pm
    It's a subject that's already effected us. We have a 'prestige' property that has a 'courtyard' style environment and we are not allowed to use strimmers/blowers in that area.

    Like you say, manual clearance can be 'therapeutic' and the knack is to divide the area and conqueor. Look at it as 'one' and it can destroy your sole !

    My biggest concern would the commercial maint side. I guess honda powered BillyGoats might see a surge in sales!

    Philip Voice said:
    I've cleared whole golf fairways by hand and believe it or not, it's quite therapeutic :)

    Any ban in the UK will have commercial implications though.
  • T & S Plants October 27, 2010 at 8:06pm
    Gary,

    You started this with a photo of a ride on lawn mower being blown into a river in Farnham by a guy with a leaf blower.

    The Yanks are now in fear of an attack from their enemies in the world from leaf blower style, suicide missions.

    Typical over-reaction by them I know, but just remember where it started, and do not dismiss the power of LJ!!!!
  • PRO
    Phil Voice October 27, 2010 at 8:07pm
    We've had two temporary bans at two separate schools during exams/lessons due to the noise.

    I've seen many instances of blower overuse whereby operators have tried to shift massive amounts of leaves they've blown into piles or rows rather than collecting the majority by hand.

    I've always felt that a blower was the initial and final pass tool.
  • PRO
    Gary RK October 27, 2010 at 8:08pm
    Blimey, I never made the link - too close to the action !
  • Greenlawns October 27, 2010 at 8:11pm
    Most of the Stihl stuff is quite a bit above 100 db, not sure of the exact as I'm not going out to the garage now but I think its either 105 or 108 db, my Honda is a little quieter but still loud and not as powerfuI.
    Its awhile since I did my Nebosh but seem to remember its worked out logarithmically so a small increase in the noise level is a large difference on the ear.
  • PRO
    Gary RK October 27, 2010 at 8:12pm
    Steve, you've missed the (funny) point. It's a tongue in cheek comment regarding the US's mania at the moment !

    The Garden Co said:

    t&s ignoring the united states as the most polutable bit of earth on our planet ie 6 litre gas cuzzlers etc , why do you see it as a over reaction regarding bellowing out 90dbs from a blower etc !
    T & S Plants said:
    Gary,

    You started this with a photo of a ride on lawn mower being blown into a river in Farnham by a guy with a leaf blower.

    The Yanks are now in fear of an attack from their enemies in the world from leaf blower style, suicide missions.

    Typical over-reaction by them I know, but just remember where it started, and do not dismiss the power of LJ!!!!
  • T & S Plants October 27, 2010 at 8:23pm
    Get yourself off of the LJ Members Map asap


    Too late, that'll be the CIA at the door.

    Gary who!!!!




    Gary RK said:
    Blimey, I never made the link - too close to the action !
  • HM GARDENS October 27, 2010 at 8:46pm
    I've just bought one!
  • PRO
    Gary RK November 3, 2010 at 9:46pm
    The momentum keeps going with another US city (Santa Monica, LA) enforcing tougher blower usage rules:

    http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2010-10-26-70620.113116-New-leaf-blo...

    Makes some interesting points about unecessay usage and preceieved health issues..

    http://www.smgov.net/departments/ose/categories/landscape/leaf_blow...

    They say we get in the future what the US has now - hope this doesn't snowball....
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