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The Vancouver Park Board could soon be swapping their gas-powered landscaping machines for emission-free alternatives.

Commissioner Dave Demers, who was elected this past fall with the Green Party, will introduce a motion next week that asks staff to develop a transition plan that will see the city’s parks crews working with more environmentally friendly equipment.

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“Gas-powered outdoor equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and hedge trimmers are some of the worst polluters out there,” said Demers. “When you look at the numbers it’s actually quite astonishing.”

Demers, who runs a landscaping company, cites a recent study done by the California Environmental Protection Agency that notes one leaf blower emits as much pollution in an hour as a Toyota Cary travelling over 1,700 kilometres.

“The pollution is terrible for our environment but also poses serious health risks to our park staff. It’s completely unnecessary and Vancouver deserves better,” he says.

While Demers acknowledged the price tag of emission-free machines are pricier, battery-powered equipment is easier to use, creates less noise and costs less to maintain.

Demers will introduce the motion at Monday’s meeting, while his Green Party colleagues on the Vancouver School Board are also considering a similar motion for equipment on school grounds.

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