VANCOUVER, BC - Green Councillor Adriane Carr has introduced a motion at Vancouver city council to reduce the pollution and negative health and environmental impacts resulting from the use of gasoline-powered two-stroke landscaping equipment. This motion builds on collaborative work between Green Councillors, Park Board Commissioners, and School Board Trustees.

Green Park Board Commissioners and Green Trustees have previously introduced related motions. In 2019 Park Board passed a resolution by Green Commissioner Dave Demers titled ‘Renewal Strategy for Landscape Equipment – Towards an Emission-Free Reality’ aimed at phasing out two-stroke engines from its operational activities. In December 2020, 33% of all Park Board equipment was ‘zero-emission’ and full transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Green Trustee Estrellita Gonzalez also introduced a motion titled ‘Renewal Strategy for Emission-free Landscape Equipment’ which passed in April, 2019 directing staff to develop a transition plan to replace gas-powered landscape maintenance equipment with emission-free equivalents or quasi-equivalents where possible.

“The two-stroke gasoline engines found in leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and other power equipment pollute at a higher rate than other equipment and vehicles,” says Councillor Carr. “According to research from the California Air Resources Board, one hour of operation of a commercial leaf blower can emit as much pollution in the form of reactive organic gases and nitrogen oxides as driving approximately 1,770 kilometers in a new passenger vehicle.”

Reactive organic gases and nitrogen oxides significantly contribute to ozone and particulate pollution which pose a significant risk to both human and environmental health and contribute to the declining populations of insect species, including pollinator insects like butterflies and bees. As well, equipment powered by two-stroke engines produce levels of noise varying from 75 to 110 decibels. Sounds above 85 decibels are deemed harmful by the provincial government.

Many political jurisdictions have banned or are considering banning or phasing out gasoline two-stroke engines including Toronto, Oak Bay, Oakland, Berkley, Los Angeles and the State of California. 

The motion calls for council to affirm the goal of pursuing emissions-free landscaping equipment in the City of Vancouver by 2025, and for city staff to provide input into Metro Vancouver’s draft 2021 Clean Air Plan urging Metro Vancouver’s development of stringent emission regulations and requirements for landscaping equipment. Because Council enacted a moratorium until the end of 2021 on any new work for staff involved in permitting and licensing, a more detailed Council motion directing staff to develop a plan to phase out and ban fossil fuel landscaping equipment will have to wait until 2022.

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Background

Trustee Gonzalez is working to bring emission free landscape equipment to Vancouver schools, March 2, 2019

Landscaping in Vancouver parks should be emission-free, says commissioner, January 26, 2019

Renewal Strategy for Landscape Equipment – Towards an Emission-Free Reality, January 4, 2019