COTI supports leaf blower ban
The Sanibel City Council will soon decide whether the noise and air pollution generated by gasoline-powered leaf blowers will come to an end on Sanibel. Ordinance 21-004, which will have its second reading on Aug. 24, would ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers as of Dec. 31, 2022.
The Committee of the Islands supports the ban and urges enactment of Ordinance 21-004. Our concern is not just about noise, though that clearly is an issue. In a guest commentary published in the July 14 edition of the Island Reporter, COTI Environment Committee Chairperson Barbara Joy Cooley pointed out that “the emissions from gas-powered leaf blowers include high levels of benzine, butadiene, formaldehyde and fine particles — all of which are health risks.” With advances in battery power technology there are alternatives that should be encouraged so that the noise and air pollution generated by gas-powered leaf blowers are phased out. We are grateful to the city council for addressing the issue.
In a message to council members, COTI President Larry Schopp said, “Sanibel has always prided itself in being a leader in environmental innovation and protection. It can and should reinforce that leadership by taking decisive action in respect to gasoline powered leaf blowers.”
We encourage members of the public who agree that this is an important issue to let the city council know where they stand by speaking at the Aug. 24 council meeting or submitting written comments to sancouncil@mysanibel.com.
The Committee of the Islands is a Florida not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the continuity of good local government, protection of the environment and preservation of the small town character of the barrier island community. For more information, visit www.coti.org or “COTI — Committee of the Islands” on Facebook.