County Executive Marc Elrich stands against a proposed amendment to the county’s ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.
The use of gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned in Montgomery County next week on July 1. But because the price of electric leaf blowers is high due to tariffs, County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz thinks landscapers should be able to continue using gas-powered equipment during certain months when most leaf blowing occurs. He introduced a bill last week for a seasonal exemption that would expire in three years.
During a media briefing Wednesday, Elrich said he does not support the amendment.
“If anybody can afford to pay for an extra battery, it’s the large companies that do the landscaping,” he said.
“I hate it when people are asking you to put a price on human health,” Elrich said. “I mean, the health risks from exposure to the fumes are real. And I understand it costs money to keep people safe and to deal with the leaf blowers. But the consequences that somehow a person should suffer negative health impacts because somebody doesn’t want to buy a second backup battery — I’m not sure I’m sympathetic.”
The county’s ban on the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers already went into effect last year. A public hearing for the new council bill is scheduled for July 15.
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