A growing movement is looking to ban or restrict the use of gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and string trimmers because of their unpleasant sounds and contributions to air pollution, according to a recent report produced by three nonprofits.

The environmental advocacy groups Environment America, U.S. PIRG, and Frontier Group found that one commercial lawn mower running for an hour produces as much smog-causing pollutants as driving 300 miles in a car. Leaf blowers produce the equivalent pollution of driving 1,100 miles.

PennEnvironment found that Montgomery County had the highest amount of overall estimated emissions in the region.

According to The Inquirer, Seth Lieberman and Anne Dicker started Quiet Clean Philly in an attempt to get 1,000 signatures for a petition urging Philadelphia City Council to ban gas-powered blowers.

There are no bans in Pennsylvania so far, but as municipalities have gradually moved toward single-use plastic bans, we may see a wave of gas-powered outdoor lawn equipment ban proposals going forward. Stay tuned.

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