Importance

The health and sustainability of communities is linked to the environment. Chronic diseases, social and mental health, air and water quality, and health disparities are but a few of the issues affected by land use and environmental factors.  

Current Project: Reducing Emissions from Landscaping

We are working to raise awareness and persuade decision makers and homeowners to protect worker health, public health and the environment from pollution related to landscape maintenance activities. 

“17 MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL, MOSTLY GASOLINE, ARE SPILLED EACH YEAR WHILE REFUELING LAWN EQUIPMENT. (MORE THAN ALL THE OIL SPILLED BY THE EXXON VALDEZ)”

— The Environmental Protection Agency

  

“BY 2031, LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT SMOG-FORMING EMISSIONS WILL BE MORE THAN TWICE THOSE FROM PASSENGER CARS."

— The California Air Resources Board (CARB)
 

“FOR THE BEST SELLING LEAF BLOWER, ONE HOUR OF OPERATION EMITS SMOG-FORMING POLLUTION COMPARABLE TO DRIVING A 2016 TOYOTA CAMERY ABOUT 1100 MILES. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT A CAR EMITS ALL THAT POLLUTION OVER A BIG STRETCH OF ROAD, WHILE A LEAF BLOWER DEPOSITS IT ALL IN ONE FRONT OR BACK YARD”

— The California Air Resources Board (CARB)

  

DID YOU KNOW gas leaf blowers are illegal in LA? Even though you can see gas leaf blowers used just about everywhere, the City of LA has recognized their negative impact and passed an ordinance back in 1998 outlawing their use within 500 feet of a residence (LAMC Section 112.04(c)). If you witness gas blowers being used illegally, please visit my311 to file a quick report: Click "all service requests," and under the category of "investigations," you'll find "leave blower violations." 

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

Much of the land in LA is cared for by single family home owners. Those homeowners can protect the health of our children, workers and the environment from the harmful impacts of gas powered landscape equipment by not using leaf blowers and other gas powered equipment in our yards.  

  • Switch to clean electric leaf blowers, mowers, hedgers, edgers and trimmers for a cleaner, quieter, healthier LA! Or, ask your landscape maintenance workers to make the switch.

 

More Information

Download our “What’s So Bad About Gas Powered Leaf Blowers?” flyer.  Please consider the environment before printing.


Learn more about the AQMD's new program for incentives in environmental justice communities to buy electric landscaping equipment and to exchange your old gas-powered equipment.