you hear that that’s right it’s leaf blower season really it’s always leaf blower season but November might be the peak for these polarizing fixtures of the American landscape this year as homeowners and lawn care workers fire up their machines they’re being met by a growing number of local laws that seek to limit their noise and other downsides more than a 100 towns and cities across the US now have bans or restrictions on leaf blowers specifically the kind powered by two-stroke gasoline engines these motors aren’t just loud they pump out a ton of air pollution advocates for blower bands also point to the damage they do to plants and pollinators not to mention the sanity of everyone within a 400 yard radius the alternative pick up a rake or at least pick up an electric leaf blower the new generation of battery power tools is quieter and far less polluting several cities have launched Grant programs and incentives to help landscapers replace their old equipment but ebler adoption has been slow and some say that the new gear is too expensive and doesn’t pack the same punch this is an argument that’s likely to far Outlast Leaf season but after battling these neighborhood nuisances for years proponents of leaf blower bands are seeing and hearing some progress