West Orange Bans Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers; Some Clap, Others Boo

Editor's Note: Read our update on the ban here.

WEST ORANGE, NJ — West Orange is now the latest Essex County town to say goodbye to gas-powered leaf blowers.

The West Orange Township Council voted 3-2 in favor of a ban on the controversial devices at their meeting last week. Bill Rutherford, Asmeret Ghebremicael and Susan Scarpa voted “yes.” Tammy Williams and Michelle Casalino voted “no.”

It was the council’s final vote on the ordinance, which has seen amendments and changes since it was first introduced.

The plan is to start out with a partial ban and move to a full ban by Jan. 1, 2026. Electric-powered leaf blowers will still be allowed.

Beginning this year, landscapers will be forbidden to use gas blowers in West Orange from Jan. 1 to March 1, and again from May 1 to Oct. 1.

First violations of the ordinance don’t include a fine. The penalty for second violations is $100, and $200 for future offenses.

Landscapers will have to register with the township and pay an annual registration fee.

Supporters of bans on gas-powered leaf blowers claim that they make for a cleaner environment and less noise pollution, in addition to protecting landscaping workers from inhaling particulates. But critics argue that leaf blower bans place an unfair burden on private landscaping companies, who may have to raise their prices to cope with the additional expenses.

The ordinance got a big round of applause from local advocacy group Our Green West Orange (OGWO). The group wrote:

“A big thank you goes to our town council members for responding to our members' advocacy with the passage of crucial legislation to stop the dangerous noise and noxious pollution of these machines. OGWO experts are reaching out to the West Orange Department of Public Works to help them with a cost-effective transition to a quieter, less polluted environment. Ultimately, the goal is for more and more households and municipal properties to mow and mulch the leaves into the lawn and avoid the danger and expense of blowing leaves into the street where the town has to expend man-hours to pick them up while they cause hazardous driving conditions.”

“This is one of the most important quality-of-life ordinances to be passed by this council,” the group added. “It brings West Orange into the 21st century with innovative, cost-effective, quieter practices for lawn care. It is important climate change legislation, since the year 2023 was the hottest year on record.”

But not everyone agrees that the ban is a good move at this time for West Orange.

Several landscapers showed up to speak in opposition of the ban during the public comment portion of last week’s meeting, arguing that the currently available versions of electric blowers just don’t cut the mustard – despite their lofty price tags (watch the video below, cued to the hearing and vote).

Other towns in Essex County that have rolled out bans on leaf blowers include Maplewood and Montclair. Both towns have faced lawsuits from angry landscapers.

• See Related: Maplewood Sued Over Its Leaf Blower Ban
• See Related: Landscapers Sue Montclair Over Controversial Leaf Blower Ban
• See Related: Montclair Leaf Blower Ban May Have Ripple Effect In West Orange

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