PHILADELPHIA — Swarthmore was on track to become the first Pennsylvania municipality to ban two-stroke, gas-powered lawn equipment such as leaf blowers and string trimmers as part of a fight against climate change.

But an ordinance to do just that has been derailed for at least a month as the borough council faces pushback by both residents and landscaping business owners, who claim a ban would lead a glut of dirty equipment that would have to be disposed of, an extra burden of cost for seniors and others having to buy new electric machines, and an expensive new overhead for landscapers who say battery-powered equipment costs multiples of gas-powered ones.

However, the ordinance does have support of residents who say the equipment is an auditory menace, highly polluting, and contributes greenhouse gas emissions.

If the council approved the ordinance in coming months, it could become the first Pennsylvania town to do so. More than 100 communities across the United States have passed laws to restrict or ban the equipment, but none in Pennsylvania — although New Jersey has several, such as Maplewood, Essex County.

Supporters and detractors

Last week, Swarthmore's borough council tabled the ordinance until at least July after hearing more than an hour of testimony from residents.

During the meeting, resident Allan Irving referred to leaf blowers as a "plague."

"Why do we put up with these earsplitting, obnoxious gas-powered leaf blowers?" Irving asked. "Others have spoken of the ... pollution and environmental damage caused by their continued use. The noise produced by these machines is of equal concern, and it's harmful to our well-being."

Irving said he hears the roar of lawn equipment almost every day for eight months of the year.

Matt Tirpak, who owns a local landscape company, said that he understands complaints about noise, but that having to re-equip would cost his business thousands of dollars more and could force up rates on customers.

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