Letter from Zurich

For quite some time now, an ancient tool, the broom, has been replaced almost everywhere. Leaf blowers are ubiquitous. Often under open windows on sunny days, preferably when there are few leaves to blow, ensuring maximum annoyance. The machine is noisy – ranging from 89 to 106 decibels according to various studies – and also polluting: exhaust fumes, carbon monoxide, and fine particles. Finally, it contributes to global warming by emitting CO₂. With such credentials, it's no wonder the device causes some irritation.

In Zurich, the city's parliament recently banned the use of these machines, unless they are electric (such models are still rare with limited battery life) and used exclusively in the autumn – the season when leaves fall from trees. A truism? Undoubtedly, but not without reason. As noted by two local Zurich MPs in August 2022, "leaf blowers are no longer used only in autumn to clear sidewalks of leaves. Janitors, gardening, and construction companies use them year-round to clear away waste, mow grass, and even snow." Further in their argument, Jürg Rauser (The Greens) and Alan David Sangines (PS) highlighted that "fine particles, bacteria, viruses, fungal spores, and worm eggs are thus dispersed. This kills small organisms and generates unnecessary noise."

You have 68.57% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.