In north suburban Highland Park, gas-powered leaf blowers are banned from May 15 to October 1.
The city is working toward an outright ban in 2027.
“Environmental sustainability is one of our top priorities,” said Highland Park City Manager Ghida Neukirch. “We are always looking for opportunities to improve the world we live in.”
Highland Park, along with several other neighboring communities, have implemented new or updated regulations following the work of a regional task force.
Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe and Lake Bluff have similar restrictions in place regarding gas-powered leaf blowers.
The task force consisted of 22 members in total, including municipalities, park districts, environmental groups and landscapers.
“We were careful not to make specific recommendations. We wanted to provide educational information so that municipalities can implement policies that align with their policy objectives and goals,” Neukirch said.
The task force followed Evanston’s lead. The city passed a total ban in 2021. It took effect in April 2023.
While the decision has an environmental impact, for Highland Park, frequent noise complaints have been a major factor, especially as more people have worked from home during the pandemic.
“Gas-powered equipment is so noisy that it was difficult to hold virtual meetings and work.”
The bans and amended orders are not without controversy. Electrical equipment is more expensive, time-consuming and, in some cases, less powerful.
“It’s a big culture shift,” said Jason Lundberg, production manager of Chalet Landscape.
“We had to invest significant sums in electrical equipment.”
Lundberg said a backpack gas leaf blower typically costs around $500.
“To outfit a crew with an electric backpack blower that would last all day, which might require multiple batteries, it could cost more than $2,500,” Lundberg said. “So, five times the expense.”
“The average life of a battery, if you use it fully, can last 45 minutes or even an hour before you need to recharge it again.”
U.S. EPA data found that in 2020, fuel-powered lawn equipment emitted more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide, the primary driver of climate change.
In Illinois, lawn and garden equipment emitted 1.1 million tons of C02, which is equivalent to the emissions of 263,516 cars in one year.
Chalet Landscape is committed to “going green”.
“A few years ago, we made a commitment to no longer purchase gas-powered equipment,” Lundberg said.
The company has equipped the trailers with battery charging stations. It has also invested in “automatic mowers”, autonomous robotic lawn mowers, to reduce both emissions and noise.
“It’s the right thing to do, and we know that as a landscaping company we do everything in a green way, and we do our best to be a green company,” Lundberg said.
Oak Park also has restrictions in place regarding gas-powered leaf blowers.
A total ban comes into force in 2025.
In municipalities subject to restrictions, violators face fines starting at $100.
NBC Chicago
