Zürich voters ban noisy leaf blowers
6 hours ago
- #Zurich
- #referendum
- #environment
- Zurich voters banned petrol-powered leaf blowers with a 61.7% majority.
- Battery-powered leaf blowers are restricted to use from October to December, except in exceptional cases like street cleaning after the Street Parade.
- The ban applies to both private individuals and municipal employees.
- The referendum followed a challenge by parliamentary parties against the city parliament's decision, arguing it represented a 'culture of prohibition'.
- The Greens and Social Democrats initiated the movement leading to the ban, with a petition in 2013 and an initiative in 2022.
- The turnout for the vote was 52.8%, with 75,248 in favor and 46,717 against the ban.