How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.
Report a link problem
Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderFor what it's worth a gas powered leaf blower puts out as much pollution in a day of work as a Ford Raptor will in 100,000 miles. Source: https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/emissions-test-...
I live in DC, a few bits of info about why it makes sense here, and may not make sense in your home: 1. They didn't ban leaf blowers, the banned _gas_ leaf blowers. Electric ones are quieter, inexpensive, and work just as well nowadays. My building has an electric Milwaukee that was 200 bucks and lasts all afternoon on a battery or two. 2. This isn't about people wanting to manicure their lawns out in the burbs at 7am…
> By 2020, gas-powered leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and similar equipment [in California] could produce more ozone pollution than all the millions of cars in California combined. Two-stroke engines are that dirty. Cars have become that clean. After using a lightweight electric mower, I can't imagine going back. I would be 100% on board with the electrification of most small engines, as soon as gains in efficiency and power make that viable.
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 2
- Total points
- 301
- Total comments
- 394
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-03-09 | On Leaf Blowers | shaki-dora | 1 | 1 |
| 2019-03-10 | Get Off My Lawn | jseliger | 1 | 0 |
| 2019-03-10 | How a small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C.First breakout · Best thread | glassworm | 197 | 229 |
| 2021-02-04 | A small group of activists got leaf blowers banned in DC (2019) | jseliger | 10 | 0 |
| 2021-03-10 | A small group of activists got gas-powered leaf blowers banned in D.C. (2019) | ddtaylor | 4 | 0 |
| 2022-08-04 | A group of activists got leaf blowers banned in the nation’s capital (2019)Hall induction · Latest 20+ point return | mhb | 88 | 164 |