Harrow Council Ban Leaf Blowers
Harrow Council
We are petitioning Harrow Council to ban the use of petrol leaf blowers from all public spaces that they maintain, throughout the year.
Leaf blowers are a serious health, safety and environmental hazard, causing noise and air pollution, damaging both users' and communities' health, wellbeing and hearing. They are detrimental to the envrionment, destroying wildlife and natural habitats, whilst contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.
It is possible!
In 2011, Camden Council and the University of London banned leaf blowers during the spring and summer months. Many other countries have also limited or outright banned leaf blowers in recent years, such as numerous US states and cities, including New York's Central Park. In 2019, Germany's government issued a statement that leaf blowers must only be used if completely necessary.
Reasons to BAN leaf blowers:
- Noise pollution - disturbance of local neighbourhoods. Operators need to wear ear protection, but nearby residents unfortunately don't have that option.
- Damaging hearing of both operators and people in close proximity. Leaf blowers can be as loud as 105dBs - any sound above 85dBs can permanently damage hearing
- Air pollution - studies have shown that petrol leaf blowers emit oil and petrol fumes similar to the exhaust of lorries
- Carbon emissions - petrol leaf blowers absorb oxygen from the air, whilst releasing high levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and other hydrocarbons
- Pushing dust and dirt into the air - with air speeds up to 250mph, leaf blowers push particles (including pollen, mold, animal feces, heavy metals, and chemicals from herbicides and pesticides), into the air aggravating asthma, hayfever and other breathing conditions, particularly amoung children and the elderly. This can also cause respiratory diseases & potentially prove fatal to users' caused by inhalation of dust.
- Disrupting and destroying animals' habitat - animals may be foraging, nesting or hibernating under leaves
- Scaring birds and other wild animals such as, hedgehogs, rabbits mice and shrews etc
- Killing insects and other wildlife such as, ladybirds and butterflies etc
- Damaging soil and destroying plant seeds - leaves or branches blown away, hindering the formation of ground nutrients and the growth of new plants
- An inefficient way of clearing leaves - they are often blown back as soon as the leaf blowing finishes.
Sponsored by
To:
Harrow Council
From:
[Your Name]
I am calling on Harrow Council to ensure the termination of petrol leaf blowers by their contractors, in-house environmental team and affiliate organisations, throughout the year.
This is for the following three reasons:
1. Leaf blowers negatively impact the peace of local neighbourhoods, damaging residents and users' health, mental wellbeing and hearing.
2. Leaf blowers contribute to climate change. Harrow Council declared a Climate Emergency in July 2019 and identified the need to reach zero carbon emissions by 2030 if we are to avoid the worst predictions of climate warming. If the Council are serious about meeting these targets, banning leaf blowers is a simple way towards this.
3. Leaf blowers destroy animal habitat and local wildife. The Council has a Biodiversity Action Plan to protect, preserve and encourage local wildlife. With our UK insect and animal populations plummeting we must do all we can to look after their environment.
It is time that Harrow Council took action and banned the use of petrol leaf blowers. The safest, most effective and environmental option is to use a rake or broom.