Dust cloud in downtown Westwood from gas-powered leaf blowers.
Recently, an insightful Hillsdale woman wrote a letter to the editor of one of those free so-called newspapers that litter our driveways on a weekly basis. Her letter addresses the noise, smell, and dust created by those terrorist pollution machines generally referred to as gas-powered leaf blowers. These machines terrorize us in a number of ways: they are responsible for a significant amount of noise pollution and air pollution, and they run on nonrenewable fossil fuel (overpriced gasoline).
If you’ve ever been on a walk or a ride past an area where one of these machines is operating, then you likely noticed the dust storm created in the area, as well as the excessive noise and emissions smell. You better have something nearby to protect your mouth, nose, and eyes!
Dust cloud in downtown Westwood from gas-powered leaf blowers.
It is interesting to note that many people who use these machines don’t even wear protective equipment. Sometimes you see hearing protection being used, but rarely do you see protection for the mouth or nose. Yikes!
The Pascack Valley needs to take a stand against these gas-powered leaf blower terrorist machines.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a lot more:
Now let’s be clear about one important thing: nothing above is meant to criticize the young gentlemen operating the machines. They are working hard, and you gotta do what you gotta do to make a living. However, the people at the top who are calling the shots should be aware of the impact of their decisions on the environment and on the health and the quality of life of both occupational and non-occupational receptors.
by Mr. Westwood
Agreed, though there must be a way to do the job without causing a dust cloud that sends people running for their lives!
I think that in the case of commercial applications, including a job like clearing the surfaces of a property the size of Veteran’s Memorial Park in Westwood, power blowers are the most practical option. What mystifies me is why people with small residential properties rely so heavily on these types of machines. On smaller properties, the job could be done more quickly with rakes and brooms; plus, the worker would get some beneficial exercise.
Last year the chamber of commerce donated a very expensive sidewalk vacuum to the DPW for keeping the sidewalks clean. It is quiet and keeps the dust down.