Vancouver city councillors want quieter, emissions free landscape equipment

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Two Vancouver city councillors want to make the city a little more quiet, by trying to do away with gas-powered landscaping equipment.

Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung is hoping her motion, to be heard on Tuesday, will move the city in a quieter and greener direction.

Kirby-Yung says working from home is distracting enough without the noise of leaf-blowers coming through your window.

“[It’s] really the most problematic item that we hear the most about; get the most complaints about. Really recognizing the increasing impact that gas powered landscape maintenance equipment is having on people, in terms of noise mental health disruption. Not to mention the fact that it’s not environmentally friendly,” she says.

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The motion is asking staff to look into phasing out personal and commercial use of gasoline powered landscaping equipment by 2025.

It does give mention of how expensive and challenging the proposed motion may be for companies, and wants to remain in consultation with the industry.

“I think one thing that’s important to note with this motion is it doesn’t suggest that we immediately ban them,” Kirby-Yung says.

According to the proposed motion, the City of Vancouver previously regulated the use of leaf blowers and similar equipment in the 1997 Urban Noise Take Force report. Under current bylaws, leaf blowers can be used in any area of Vancouver, except for the West End, up to a maximum decibel level of 70.

Councillor Adriane Carr is also bringing forward a similar motion on Tuesday.