A quarter of Canadians think gas lawn mowers should be banned due to environmental damage
By Contributor
A quarter of Canadian residents believe gas lawn mowers should be banned in Canada, due to the environmental damage caused by using this type of fuel.
According to brand new data from Homestars.com, the reliable way to hire tradespeople, 25 per cent of people in Canada would support a full ban on the gas-powered machine. Perhaps surprisingly, men were slightly more in favour of a ban than women: 28 per cent versus 23 per cent.
The 18-34 years old age range were the most in favour of a ban with almost a third (30%) in favour. Over a quarter of 35-54 year olds also supported a ban (28%), while just 21 per cent of over 55s agreed. Geographically, Quebec was the area which most strongly supported the ban at 28 per cent. Ontario was marginally behind at 27 per cent, whereas just over a fifth (21%) of residents in Alberta supported a ban.
Gas mowers are a popular choice for larger lawns, and it’s thought that there are millions of these machines across Canada. While the US has already brought in a ban, with many large brands such as Honda and John Deere moving to electric machines, Canada has yet to officially follow. Tightening emissions targets also means that a ban may be on its way — the government states that it aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Gas-powered tools, including lawn mowers, will not support this aim.
Colleen McGrory, from Homestars.com, said: “Gas mowers are still extremely popular in this country, but it seems likely that Canadians will move away from using them. Some local authorities are already considering imposing restrictions on gas-powered tools, and it’s more than possible others will follow.
“For many homeowners, gas mowers are a necessary evil, especially for larger yards where electric mowers are not as convenient. Battery mowers often don’t have the battery life to get the job done in one go. However, as technology advances, millions of Canadians will be turning their backs on gas mowers and moving to more environmentally friendly options.”
Here are Homestars.com’s tips on green alternatives to the gas lawn mower:
Electric mower
Electric lawn mowers have come a long way — and now come in cordless options. They are quieter, lighter, often require less maintenance, and obviously have no gas emissions, but will increase your electricity bills. Plug-in lawn mowers have clear limitations and are less suitable for large yards, while battery-powered ones have a limited usage before they need to be recharged.
Robot mower
Robot mowers are all the rage, but they have pros and cons. They tend to be expensive to buy, and require set up, which can be complicated depending on the size and shape of your yard. Also, robotic mowers can be a particular danger to pets and children, due to their sharp blades.
Don’t mow! (Or do it the old-fashioned way)
No Mow May encourages homeowners to let their grass run wild, which is helpful to pollinators and wildlife. However, you will still need to look after your lawn, and eventually some type of management will be needed. A natural alternative to mowing is using a human-powered push mower, or even a scythe. Both offer varied results depending on the person completing the work, and are very time consuming.
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