To: The Waltham City Council

We, the residents of Waltham, call on the City Council to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers and transition to quieter electric alternatives, following the model already adopted by our neighbors in Lexington, Arlington, Belmont, Concord, and Cambridge.

This is more than an annoyance

A single gas-powered leaf blower can disrupt hundreds of people who never agreed to hear it. Gas-powered leaf blowers routinely exceed 100 decibels — the equivalent of a jackhammer — well above the threshold for permanent hearing damage. A single blower can affect up to 90 homes at once. The low-frequency sound penetrates walls and windows, and as Waltham residents have reported, machines fire up from 7am - 8 p.m., seven days a week, spring through fall.

The result is a sound that dominates entire neighborhoods. Residents should be able to enjoy their homes, patios, yards, and open windows without being subjected to hours of industrial noise from properties blocks away.

This disproportionately affects:

-Residents working from home
-Parents with sleeping infants and young children
-Seniors
-Students studying at home
-Individuals with autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, PTSD, migraines, or chronic illness
-Anyone seeking to enjoy their yard, open a window, read a book, or have a conversation outdoors

To many, the sound is more than an annoyance - it truly disrupts their nervous systems, concentration and peace.

The environmental impact is significant

Running a commercial gas leaf blower for just 30 minutes produces more ozone-forming pollution than a large pickup truck driven 3,000 miles. These machines blast carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, and fine particulate matter — along with mold, animal waste, and pesticides from the ground — directly into the air we all breathe.

Waltham has made sustainability and waste reduction priorities. A transition away from gas-powered leaf blowers would be a practical step toward reducing unnecessary pollution while promoting healthier and more environmentally responsible landscaping practices.

Cleaner, quieter alternatives already exist. There is no reason our neighborhoods should bear the environmental costs of outdated equipment when better options are readily available.

Other Massachusetts communities have already acted

Waltham would not be alone.

Nearby communities including Lexington, Arlington, Concord, Cambridge, and Somerville have adopted restrictions or bans on gas-powered leaf blowers in response to concerns about noise and quality of life.

Quiet, effective electric leaf blowers are widely available, and communities across Massachusetts have shown that a successful transition is possible. Landscaping businesses in communities that have already passed bans have made the switch successfully. We are not asking anyone to rake by hand. We are asking for a reasonable, enforceable standard that puts our health, our air, and our ability to live and work in our own homes above the convenience of a polluting machine.

What we are asking the city to do

We are calling on the Waltham City Council and Mayor to:

• Adopt a phased ban on gas-powered leaf blowers within city limits.
• Establish a reasonable transition period for homeowners and landscaping companies.
• Allow the continued use of battery-powered leaf blowers and other lower-noise alternatives.
• Restrict hours of operation during the transition period to reduce disruption to residents.
• Lead by example by transitioning city-owned landscaping equipment away from gas-powered leaf blowers.

What we will do with this petition

Once we have gathered community support, we will:

• Submit this petition to the Waltham City Council and Mayor.
• Request that the issue be placed on a City Council agenda for discussion.
• Encourage residents to attend public meetings and speak about the impacts of leaf blower noise in their neighborhoods.
• Work collaboratively with city officials, residents, and landscaping professionals to develop a practical transition plan.

This petition is about finding a balanced solution that protects both neighborhood quality of life and the needs of property owners and landscaping businesses.

Lexington, Arlington, Belmont, Concord, and Cambridge have already acted to protect residents from excessive leaf blower noise.

Waltham residents deserve the same consideration.

If you agree that our neighborhoods should be quieter, healthier, and more livable, please sign and share this petition.