For Immediate Release: Monday, October 9, 2023
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today signed Bill 18-22, Noise Control – Leaf Removal Equipment, into law. This new law will phase out the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers and leaf vacuums.
“With the signing of this bill into law, we are addressing the negative impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers and putting the health and safety of all our community members first,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “As our next step, we will be designing a rebate program to accompany the phase-out to ease the transition to electric leaf equipment. I want to thank all the members of the community who laid out the need for this legislation and advocated tirelessly.”
“The keywords with this bill are phasing out and phasing in,” said Jon Monger, director of the County’s Department of Environmental Protection. “We are phasing out gas powered leaf blowers and phasing in electric leaf blowers over the next two years. We designed this legislation to give landscape companies, independent landscapers and the public ample time to comply with the law.”
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=44121