What landscapers have to say about new ban on gas leaf blowers in Sanibel

Landscapers are fighting back after a rule to ban gas leaf blowers in Sanibel is going into effect.

The group that called for the ban is a renewable energy working group, they say gas blowers create too much pollution.

WINK News talked to Jesus Hernandez, he owns his own landscaping company and works on a lot of yards in Sanibel.

He said electric leaf blowers take double the time to do the same. And time is money which means a lot of customers are going to pay a lot more.

“Now, for example, You’re going to be there for a half hour, we’re now gonna have to be there an hour and a half or so,” Hernandez said.

That roar is one of the reasons why the City of Sanibel said they’re banning gas-powered leaf blowers. They sent out a letter saying that people must make the switch to electric leaf blowers before January 1, 2023.

He said the city originally banned the blowers after 9 p.m. which worked well. But now they’re taking it a step further and it’s going to hurt landscapers and customers.

“We’re gonna have to spend a lot more time on each visit so that you have to charge more, your quarterly because now, for example, you’re going to be there for a half hour, we’re not gonna have to be there an hour and a half or so,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez said commercial-grade electric blowers start at $2,000 and batteries are $500 each and they only last 4 to 5 hours.

Hernandez and other landscapers are protesting at the city council meeting Monday morning to fight back against this new rule.