Montclair Council OKs Full Ban On Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Say goodbye to gas-powered leaf blowers, Montclair.

The Montclair Town Council voted 4-1 to approve a year-round ban on the controversial devices at their meeting this week. Deputy Mayor Bill Hurlock was the sole “no” vote. Council members David Cummings and Bob Russo were not present.

The ban takes effect on Oct. 15.

Under the town’s previous rules, “internal combustion” leaf blowers were banned from May 15 to Oct. 15. The regulations also limited the times that the devices can be used, and carried a $100 minimum fine for those who don’t comply.

The new rules will completely ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers on private and public property in Montclair. The minimum fine increases to $250 for a first offense.

Electric leaf blowers will be allowed throughout the year, except on air quality action days. A maximum of two leaf blowers of any kind will be allowed to be in use at the same time on a property under one acre – except if it’s owned by the township.

The debate about leaf blowers has been raging since Montclair first placed restrictions on their use in 1994. Some people claim that bans make for a cleaner environment and less noise pollution, in addition to protecting landscaping workers from inhaling particulates.

But some critics argue that leaf blower bans place an unfair burden on private landscaping companies, who may raise their prices to cope with the additional expense of operating in Montclair.

Watch footage from the meeting below (video is cued to the vote/discussion).

• See Related: Leaf Blowers, Landscapers And Montclair: The Great Debate Continues
• See Related: Montclair Remains Divided On Leaf Blower Laws

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