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The Petition

We, the undersigned San Francisco residents, urge the Mayor and County Supervisors of San Francisco to protect the public health and environment of San Franciscans by enacting a ban of gasoline-powered leaf blowers (GLBs) and garden equipment in favor of cleaner alternatives. These dirty and noisy machines have become all too prevalent in the year-round care of lawns and public spaces.

Two-stroke gasoline engines in gas leaf blowers release 300 times the levels of hydrocarbons as vehicles on the road. Running a gas powered, leaf blower for 1 hour is equivalent to the pollutants released by driving a car 1,100 miles.

Approximately 5 pounds of particulate matter per leaf blower per hour are blown into the air and can take hours and even days to settle. This particulate matter precipitates asthma attacks, exacerbates allergies, and can cause lung cancer. It also contributes to cardiac conditions such as arrhythmia. The pollutants emitted by the leaf blower’s two-stroke engine include hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and other carcinogens. Children and pets are the most susceptible to the pollution since they have higher respiratory rates and children’s organs are still developing.

In addition, this equipment has the following negative impacts on our neighborhoods:

• Noise can lead to permanent hearing loss.
• Landscape contractors handling gasoline-powered garden equipment on a regular basis are endangering their own health.
• People are not the only ones impacted; the health of our pets is at risk.

All out bans on GLBs have proven to be more effective than enforcing local noise ordinances. Why can’t San Francisco recognize how harmful these devices are to our environment and public health? Do manufacturers make large campaign contributions? Why can’t we do something about an issue that is so clearly damaging our public health and the environment?

The following Bay Area cities have already banned these gas-powered devices:

Belvedere, Berkeley,  Mill Valley, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Piedmont, Tiburon

Other California cities that have banned them:

Beverly Hills, Carmel, Claremont, Indian Wells, Lawndale, Malibu, Newport Beach, Ojai, Santa Barbara, Solana Beach, South Pasadena, West Hollywood