Group Calls for Fellow Newton Residents to Support a Ban on Leafblowers

On Feb. 18, at the meeting of the Newton Programs and Services Committee, Alderman voted to craft two ordinances: one calling for a total ban of leaf blowers, and another calling for a seasonal ban.

A group in town has formed in hopes of pushing through at least one of these ordinances. Newton Safe and Sound is a group of residents hoping to push regulations and reforms on leaf blowing practices.

Members are urging residents to send letters to Aldermen stating a position on leaf blowers, and add that leaf blower lobbyists are also sending letters to the Alderman.

Karen Bray of Newton Safe and Sound shared a letter with Patch that she has submitted to neighbors. A segment of the letter is as follows:

Dear Neighbors,

We are submitting this letter to each of our neighbors who, we believe, employ landscaping companies.

With spring on the horizon (hopefully!), we ask: Would you be willing to hire a landscaping company who rakes rather than using leaf blowers? We believe that most landscapers will provide that option. Or, would you be willing to ask your current company to rake?

The evidence is overwhelming concerning the health hazards of leaf blowers:

• Foremost, we are concerned especially about children. According to a study by physicians at Mt Sinai Hospital, there is significant evidence that fine particulate matter emitted by and blown up by leaf blowers lodges in the lungs of children and adults and can be especially toxic to those with asthma and allergies. Children’s lungs are still developing; they breathe at twice the rate of adults; they are more susceptible to airborne pollutants.

• Equally vulnerable are all of us adults who work at home, the elderly aging in place, people at home in hospice, people recovering from surgery or illness, residents with new babies, joggers, gardeners and anyone who works outdoors.

• And, not without significance, the health of the yard workers themselves who are even more seriously assaulted by the noise, motor pollution, and particulate matter.

• Furthermore, these machines cause serious harm to our lawns and the living creatures who live there. Blowers remove the topsoil, natural mulch and organic compost. Plants are not meant to be subjected to the 180 mph winds which these machines emit. Honeybees, bumblebees and lady bugs will not occupy a garden that is under such assault.

The Newton Noise ordinance states, “whereas the people have a right to and should be ensured an environment free from excessive sound that may jeopardize their health or welfare or safety or degrade the quality of life.” We believe that the overuse of leaf blowers by lawn companies degrades the quality of our life and that of many other Newton residents. Our Aldermen are aware of this and are considering implementing regulations. But, until or if ever that happens, we are wondering whether we could prevail upon you to bring more quiet to our neighborhood.

We believe that leaf blowers are different from other machines, principally in the frequency and ubiquity of their use. We cannot dig into the asphalt ourselves; so, jackhammers are necessary. Home demolition requires noisy trucks and cranes. Many people use gas powered mowers, but, these are limited to, say, one half hour every 2 weeks at the height of summer. Similarly, snow blowers (notwithstanding this past February!) are limited.

Fortunately, there is an easy alternative to using leaf blowers: rakes. Three workers with rakes in our modest-sized yards can do the job in the same amount of time as leaf blowers.

Many cities across the country have banned leaf blowers. Santa Monica and Los Angeles to name two!), and even local communities like Brookline and Cambridge have severely restricted the months in which leaf blowers may be used.

Newton — “The Garden City” — should be a leader here.

Other Massachusetts towns have had battles over leaf blower regulations, with towns such as Arlington voting a compromise in 2013. Lincoln even went as far as to form a Leaf Blower Study Group.