We’re on a mission to transition Toronto away from gas-powered leaf blowers
We’re a group of Toronto residents determined to create a safer, cleaner and quieter city for all
Gas-powered leaf blowers are not just a temporary noise annoyance; research has shown they are a serious threat to public health and the environment. Switching to electric or battery-powered blowers, or using manual rakes, can help mitigate these effects. It's a small change that can have a big positive impact on your health and the environment.
Noise Pollution: The gas powered leaf blowers can produce noise levels as high as 110 decibels, which can lead to auditory disorder including hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and sleep disturbances. Battery powered leaf blowers produce 70 decibels or less.
Toxic exhaust: The toxic exhaust and extreme noise they create is harmful to everyone – especially children and seniors. More than 30% of a leaf blower's fuel/oil mixture gets emitted unburned as an aerosol that contains a host of toxins that can cause eye, skin and respiratory tract irritation, neurological effects, and has been linked to lymphoma, leukemia and other types of cancer.
Air Pollution: These inefficient, fossil fuel burning devices are known to emit high levels of pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, which can aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis, and cardiovascular diseases.
Global warming: Pollutants from these fossil fuel burning devices like nitrogen oxides, methane, carbon dioxide, and ozone forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene, contribute to the most prevalent greenhouse gases in ability to heat the planet by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Reducing how much we emit from fossil fuels is crucial for both improving air quality and decarbonizing our economy.
We can work collectively to ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in our communities.
We’re Taking a Stand Because
The noise of gas leaf blowers is louder than is healthy for humans
Gas leaf blowers harm the workers who use them
The emissions from leaf blowers kill small animals and insects
Gas leaf blowers emit toxic air that anyone nearby breathes
How You Can Help
Sign up to become a Gasbuster and receive email updates
Join the Gasbusters email list and get updates with our initiatives and actions you can take
Report excessive noise to the city
By reporting an incident of excessive noise such as the use of gas leaf blowers, you can make a change.
Change your landscaping methods
Consider using quieter, emission-free, electric or manual gardening tools, and learn about talking to your landscapers or property management about transitioning away from gas-powered tools.
Join Us
We are an activist organization, advising members to spread awareness . Our campaign is based on scientific and evidence-based facts to demonstrate the potential harm of gas-powered leaf blowers to the health of citizens.