See You In September, Leaf Blowers!

Most suburbanites have a love-hate relationship with leaf blowers.

They certainly simplify yard clean up, particularly in corralling leaves from hard-to-reach places. But the jackhammer-like noise pollution they produce can make it impossible for neighbors to enjoy relaxing in their own yards.

What many people don’t know is that there are other costs to using a leaf blower. According to medical research, they contribute to health hazards by spreading airborne particles that can penetrate deep into your lungs, promoting respiratory diseases.

In addition, their two-stroke engines are notoriously polluting, contributing as much carbon dioxide and other noxious gasses to the air as a large automobile.

For these reasons, the Village of Mamaroneck – along with other municipalities such as Tarrytown, Hastings, and Rye – prohibits the use of leaf blowers between May 15 and September 30. The Town of Mamaroneck’s ban begins on May 31. The official law was passed in 2008; violations of this ordinance are punishable by fines of up to $250.

“Leaf blowers, even electric ones blow air at anywhere from 135 to 240 miles per hour. Just for comparison, when Hurricane Sandy made landfall, its winds were 89 miles per hour,” said Laura Holbrook, a member of the Village Committee for the Environment (CFTE). “Now when air at that speed hits dirt and debris, it stirs up dust with mold, fungal spores, pollens and pesticides, bird and rodent feces.”

The effects of this particulate matter can be particularly onerous for people with respiratory conditions, and for children, according to a statement by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s Pediatric Unit, who has supported the leaf blower limitations throughout Westchester.

“Children are the most susceptible members of our population to these hazards because they breathe more air per pound of body weight per day than adults and thus inhale more of any pollutants that are thrown into the air by this equipment,” said Dr. Allen J. Dozor, chief of pediatric pulmonology at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, in a 2008 interview with the New York Times.

“Children’s vulnerability to the health effects of this equipment is further magnified by the fact that they are passing through the stages of early development, and thus their lungs, ears, eyes, and other organ systems are inherently more sensitive to environmental hazards than the organs of adults.”

Unfortunately, though the law has been in effect for seven years, many Village residents are unaware of its existence and its importance, according to Marc Karell, co-chair of the CFTE.

“The Village does not want to make things unnecessarily onerous for homeowners or landscapers, which is why this limitation goes into effect well past the time when people actually need leaf blowers to help clear their yards of fallen foliage,” said Karell. “During this time of year, the drawbacks of leaf blower usage far outweigh the benefits.”

Villagers who see or hear leaf blowers in violation of the ordinance are encouraged to report violations to the Mamaroneck Police by calling 914-777-1122. During the rest of the year, Karell is also advocating for the use of electric leaf blowers that produce lower noise and generate less pollution and/or new leaf blowers models that keep its noise levels below 65 decibels. Such leaf blowers have a sticker stating that it successfully tested meeting this noise standard.

But according to Holbrook, what many residents don’t recognize is that the use of leaf blowers can ultimately make our garden look worse.

“Many of us aspire to having a beautiful, well-kept garden, but leaf blowers are actually bad for the soil and can dehydrate your plants,” she says. “So using leaf blowers might actually be working against you.”