Bans on this landscaping tool are spreading around the US: See where
Bans on this landscaping tool are spreading around the US: See where
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Home maintenance: Get gutters ready for winter
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Gas-powered leaf blowers have been around since the early 1970s, but over time, the lawn care device has received criticism from angry neighbors and eco-conscious lawmakers, some of whom have issued bans citing pollution, noise and health risk concerns.
From the state of California to the District of Columbia, bans against the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers continue to pile up. In Washington, D.C., under the Leaf Blower Regulation Amendment Act of 2018, companies or individuals who use gasoline-powered leaf blowers are subject to fines of up to $500 for each offense.
In California, lawmakers passed AB1346, which banned the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and weed whackers by July 1, 2024.
While bans on the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn equipment have been applauded by some, the policies also sparked backlash, with states like Texas and Florida prohibiting the outright ban on these devices to protect oil and gas industries.
Where are gas-powered leaf blowers banned or restricted?
According to the Public Interest Research Group, an advocacy organization, the following states or cities have either banned or restricted gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn equipment:
Cities, states create incentive programs for using electric lawn equipment
The desire to transition away from gas-powered lawn equipment is growing, with cities like Dallas, Austin, and Louisville, Kentucky, offering rebates for purchasing electric lawn equipment at select locations. Some states do this as well, including Indiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Wyoming.
"Transitioning to battery-powered landscaping equipment is a more sustainable alternative that would move us closer to meeting climate action goals and reduce harmful health effects," San Diegans for Sustainable, Equitable & Quiet Equipment in Landscaping, a California-based group, has said, USA TODAY previously reported.
Home improvement retail giants Home Depot and Lowe's have also decreased their inventory of gas-powered lawn equipment in favor of other options, according to the Public Interest Research Group.
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.
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