The financial consequences of a leaf blower ban would affect many diverse constituents. The following is a brief summary of those who would be negatively impacted.

1. The Horticultural Industry
   The Horticulture industry utilizes leaf blowers as a labour saving and useful tool for their grounds maintenance operations. Industry estimates suggest that landscape firms can save up to 30% of their labour costs by using leaf blowers in their routine maintenance. More than 1000 Landscape Companies operate in the Toronto area. Each company employs an average of five people. If we assume that each employee earns an average of $30,000 per year x 5,000 employees we are dealing with an annual payroll of approximately $150,000,000.00. 30% of this is $45,000,000.00.

   Therefore, the impact of a leaf blower ban on the horticultural industry would be approximately $45,000,000.00. This is on their entire operations including residential, industrial, commercial and institutional accounts.
   
   

2. The Paving Industry
   The paving industry uses leaf blowers to prepare worn asphalt surfaces before application of new asphalt. It is a useful and effective tool that is far more efficient than sweeping. Considering the amount of asphalt renovation and sealing that goes on both on municipal roads and private properties, the impact on the paving industry could far exceed the financial impact on the horticultural industry. For estimate purposes we can guess at a $10,000,000.00 impact.
   
   
3. Municipal and Nonprofit Institutions
   Municipalities, cemeteries, parks systems, Ontario Hydro, Toronto District School Board and all public institutions use leaf blowers as a labour saving tool. The cost of maintaining these large-scale properties without the use of leaf blowers is astronomical. Your own city staff can estimate the financial impact for the Parks & Works Department. In fact the School Board just purchased over 100 leaf blowers in 2001 and SkyDome uses leaf blowers for cleaning the stands.
   
   
4. Homeowner's Utilizing Grounds Maintenance Services
   More homeowners utilize grounds maintenance services and therefore approve the use of leaf blowers on their property than the vocal minority attempting to ban their use. A leaf blower ban would mean higher maintenance costs. It is estimated that costs would have to go up at least $10,000.00 for this group.
   
   
5. Homeowner's Who Own Their Own Leaf Blower
   The leaf blower has increased in popularity with the do-it-yourself homeowner. Millions of dollars worth of leaf blowers are purchased each year. The financial impact on this group is the cost of the leaf blowers and the increase in labour.
   
   
6. Power Equipment Retailers
   Power Blowers account for 15-35% of the total turnover of ECHO, Stihl, Poulan/Weedeater, Homelite, Shindaiwa, and is made up from the sale of power blowers, power blower parts and related accessories. While there are others who manufacture power blowers, these five represent 90% of the Canadian power blower market. In total, there are in excess of 1500 retailers representing these product lines and a power blower ban would dramatically affect the viability of many of these independent businesses. In the greater Toronto area, this number of independent businesses involved in the retailing and servicing of power blowers would be in excess of 100.
   
   
7. Manufacturers, Their Employees and Distributors
   The design, manufacture, sales and distribution of leaf blowers contribute millions of dollars to Canada's economy. A ban on leaf blowers in the City of Toronto would affect the entire production chain and would impact other communities in Ontario and Canada. Again we are dealing with millions of dollars not to mention loss of livelihood for many families.
   
   
8. The Taxpayer
   Leaf blowers save the taxpayer in Toronto thousands of dollars in reduced municipal labour costs. The city would be in the best position to estimate the increased labour costs for their parks and works departments.

This brief summary is a conservative and incomplete estimate on the financial impact of a leaf blower ban and does not consider the astronomical cost of enforcing a leaf blower ban.

Leaf blowers are a noisy but legal power tool. No one enjoys the noise generated by leaf blowers. However with increased education, consideration and the introduction of newer, quieter technologies the problem of leaf blower noise can be minimized without considering a drastic, expensive and unenforceable leaf blower ban.


See also City of Toronto's proposed guidelines for leaf blower use