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Metro Vancouver moving closer toward phasing out gas-powered landscaping equipment

Metro Vancouver is moving closer to outlawing the use of gas-powered, small engine landscaping equipment, including leaf blowers, mowers and pressure-washing equipment.

The municipality’s climate action committee has instructed staff to seek public input, including industry and local government, about ways to eliminated pollution from gas-powered equipment.

The objective of the campaign is to create a shift toward battery and electric-powered equipment.

Municipal staff reports there are between 400,000 and 600,000 units of small-engine gas-powered equipment being used in the region, with about 20 per cent of that number being used by commercial landscapers and municipal parks employees. Staff claims about half the emissions are produced by the commercial and parks sector.

Other municipalities in the region have been consulted about the pending transfer from gas to electric, including those that have already made the transition.