Zurich voters ban petrol-powered leaf blowers.

The people of Zurich have had enough of the noise of leaf blowers. Voters have banned petrol-powered machines with a 61.7% majority.

There is also a new restriction for battery-powered models. They may only be used from October to December. Use in other months is only permitted in exceptional cases, for example for street cleaning after the Street Parade.

  • wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.comFrançais
    4·
    3 months ago

    My neighborhood is a never ending drone of gas powered mowers and leaf blowers. All of my immediate neighbors only have electric mowers and leaf blowers. The drone comes from streets away and never fucking ends.

  • CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de
    2·
    3 months ago

    I used to use these in a professional context and really didn’t appreciate the need for a ban. But now I get to listen to them, and my opinion has changed slightly. I think having them in fall is a good compromise, and the electric machines are so much quieter. I also have learned more about how important leaves are for the ecosystem, pollinators and beneficial insects need them so I don’t love it when people make their gardens spotless.

    I still have sympathy for scenarios where they’re a quick use, just pushing grass clippings off the walk way for example. But they are overused for sure.