Phasing out Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

At the May 2025 Acton Town Meeting, residents approved a Leaf Blower Control bylaw (Article 32). Small-but-vocal opposition was successful in amending the bylaw to delay implementation by one year; see dates of phased implementation, below.

So: What Happens When?

• Beginning on January 1, 2026, the Town stopped purchasing or acquiring gas-powered leaf blowers, and will phase out the use of wheeled, four-stroke leaf blowers as soon as it is technologically and financially feasible to do so.
• The Town will provide information notifying the public and commercial landscapers about the health and safety effects of gas-powered leaf blowers, and inform them about the Leaf Blower Control Bylaw.
• Effective January 1, 2028, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers by all operators is prohibited, except during the spring clean-up period of March 15, 2028 to May 31, 2028 and the fall clean-up period of September 15, 2028 to December 31, 2028.
• After December 31, 2028, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers is prohibited by all operators at all times, including during spring and fall clean-up periods.

Note: This prohibition does not apply to wheeled, four-stroke leaf blowers, or to leaf blowing devices attached to tractors or mowers.

Why Ban Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers?

Most of us have learned that a tidy yard meant cleaning up all the leaves each fall, but there’s a different, and better, way to care for your yard — and the critters that live or feed or lay eggs there! We may not even notice many of them, but wildlife is all around in the “litter” in our yards — including bumblebees, caterpillars, moths, fireflies, and toads; even birds rummage through it for food. Leaf litter returns nutrients to the soil that supports the trees and plants in your yard.

The very best way to support them and the critters is to leave your leaves where they fall. Next best is to move leaves to mulch garden beds, trees, and shrubs. You’ll still protect much of the wildlife and recycle nutrients right where they belong.

These machines are harmful in a variety of ways. They spew toxic emissions and create extreme sound pollution — posing health and environmental hazards to the operators, children, the elderly, and all Acton residents. These tools are unnecessary, thanks to the development of much quieter and cleaner electric leaf blowers, as well as alternatives that make blowing leaves unnecessary in many cases. Harms include:

NOISE: Gas leaf blowers create high-intensity, low-frequency noise that impacts nearby homes, schools, parks, pedestrians — essentially, anyone within earshot. Operating a gas leaf blower can cause permanent hearing loss in as little as two hours and can impact people in up to 90 nearby homes. The low-frequency noise of gas blowers travels further than the noise from electric blowers and penetrates through walls. These machines have much greater noise impact than electric leaf blowers.

POLLUTION: Backpack gas leaf blowers have two-cycle engines, which produce hundreds of times more hazardous pollutants and fine particulates than automobiles. In California, small engines such as those in leaf blowers overtook automobiles in 2020 to become the number one source of air pollution.

HEALTH: Gas leaf blowers emit high levels of formaldehyde, benzene, fine particulate matter, and smog-forming chemicals. They also kick up clouds of debris that can include pollen, fertilizers, pesticides, fecal matter, and other particulate materials that can have health impacts on those who inhale them. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to:

• premature death in people with heart or lung disease
• nonfatal heart attacks
• irregular heartbeat
• aggravated asthma
• decreased lung function
• increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing

People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, minority populations, and low socioeconomic status populations are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure, either because they are more sensitive or [because they] may have higher exposures. From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics

JUSTICE/EQUITY: Operators of the equipment, who are often members of low-income groups or people of color, cannot automatically protect themselves from the toxins and deafening noises they endure because of limited regulations for these devices and almost no enforcement. The exhaust and dust are dangerous for everyone — especially children, the elderly, and people with chronic asthma or other respiratory or cardiopulmonary problems. Gas leaf blowers are often used in parks and other public spaces where many people can be exposed to these dangers.

Alternative Approaches to Leaves

There are great alternatives to using gas leaf blowers, including:

Go electric! Use a battery-powered electric leaf blower. (Some older models are corded, but most newer ones are cordless.) You can bag the blown leaves, and put them on your compost pile or use as mulch in your garden.

Raking works! It is especially effective for cleaning up grass clippings and lightweight debris. (Bonus: it’s good exercise!)

Leave the leaves and grass clippings in place because they can feed your lawn! Find more Green Acton information on sustainable lawn care and “leaving the leaves.”

If you use a landscaping service, request that staff do not use gas leaf blowers, especially during the summer months, when there is far less debris to clean up. Note that in 2028, use of gas leaf blowers is restricted to these periods: March 15–May 31 and Sept. 15–Dec. 31. After Dec. 31, 2028, their use is prohibited by all operators at all times (except for wheeled, four-stroke leaf blowers, or leaf blowing devices attached to tractors or mowers).

For much more info on gas vs. electric leaf blowing, see this .pdf created by a local advocate.