Gas Leaf Blowers (Austin: HOA, homes, refrigerator)

[Mike78613]

I enjoy using my gas blower. It's a 2-stroke / pre-mix and it does not smell or blow smoke. I am thankful to have a wonderful little machine that can both blow away or mulch my leaves into a bag

I think the older 2-stroke are causing lot of polution, but if you want to know what's worse........... then check out jetski's. Talk about water pollution.

[twange]

Originally Posted by aaauger

Twange - I know that Austin has a hazard reclamation site behind the old Wal-mart on S. I-35 for household items (paint, pesticides, etc.). I'm sure that medical organizations have bio-waste reclamation arrangements. But what do regular folk do about their medical waste? Ex. Diabetics on injected insulin. I don't know but the thought would make me think twice before scavenging in the town dump. I can also tell you from finding dirty diapers in our parking lot, condoms on the beach on Padre Island, etc. that a lot of folks don't concern themselves with proper disposal.

I read on the EPA's website that as long as you put the needles into the red plastic bio-hazard container, you can just throw them into the trash. That's just backwards in my opinion. And it's not only Texas. Ohio, where we used to live was similar, although I think their medical waste regulations were a bit stricter. Just imagine a situation where people scavenge for used needles to sell on the drug market. This would be very easy to do if you know what to look for.

The idea of non-regulation sounds great in theory but like you said, as populations grow(the world is bursting, with higher populations than ever before), I just don't see how things will be able to remain as they are. Anymore, "live and let live" is really an attitude more than a practical governing way of life. I think the biggest challenge we face now is how to balance private needs and public needs.

I heard the other day that much of Texas' constitution has barely changed since the 1870s! That seems a little weird no? I mean, we're talking the period following Reconstruction

Here's a few images of Texas circa 1870:

I think some things have changed a bit

[twange]

Originally Posted by tstone

But after my road trip to CA, I can only imagine that common courtesy is almost impossible to find in some of the communities there. Hence the existence of these socialist (read: Un-American) laws.

Public Education. Police forces. Fire Departments. Medicare. These are "socialist" programs(read: largely paid for by the public via taxes)...are they un-American? Painting with a broad, coarse brush is pretty un-American I think.

[Trainwreck20]

Actually, the Texas constitution has changed dramatically...but through addition, not removal. They just keep amending and amending it....it is one (if not the) longest state constitutions. In that regard, it makes kind of an interesting historical novel .

Just because someone wants to scavenge for needles, I don't think we need to enact more regulations. I would think simple security at the landfill would take care of anything at the landfill itself, and anyone scavenging trashcans down our street will not go unnoticed for long. Passing laws requiring people to dispose of medical waste (needles) in a certain manner will not eliminate improperly disposed of needles entirely. People will just dispose of them like they used to, at least in some cases. If we are going to regulate, why not make it illegal to scavenge needles? Both laws have to be enforced, but one requires an entirely new program to do the same thing - dispose of needles.

As for leaf blowers, noise is one thing, but it is the lesser problem to me. The smog from these things is nasty and adds to an already existing smog problem around here. We use and electric blower (and it certainly isn't quiet), and it really isn't much of an issue to use an extension cord. We have learned the most efficient 'route' through the trees and use a double extension cord.

[twange]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Passing laws requiring people to dispose of medical waste (needles) in a certain manner will not eliminate improperly disposed of needles entirely. People will just dispose of them like they used to, at least in some cases. If we are going to regulate, why not make it illegal to scavenge needles? Both laws have to be enforced, but one requires an entirely new program to do the same thing - dispose of needles.

I see your point. Of course there will always be people who don't do things properly, and I understand the hesitancy to start a new program but I still think that states could provide a convenient drop-off location for this kind of stuff just so that it can be managed as appropriately as say "a removed limb" or a "container of blood". There are all kinds of regulations about that stuff and I don't think too many people would disagree that management of biohazardous waste is critical. Just the shear volume of plastic that could be recycled is enough to warrant some attention. Just imagine how many plastic syringes there are in landfills

Back to gas blowers(no pun intended), as I'm sitting here peacefully working on my deck, the maintenance guy at my apartment just fired one up to blow some leaves off the pool deck. Both the cat and dog went running inside and the fumes nearly made me puke and my dog started sneezing.

I used to work for a landscaper in the summers while in college, so I understand the pleasure of using big, loud, gas-powered tools But they are pretty polluting and frankly not really that necessary for the average person with the average yard. I think there are simply better choices nowadays.

Toro Power Sweep Leaf Blower

[Synopsis]

I HATE those gas powered leaf blowers. In the summer, you can hardly get any peace and quiet because someone is blowing their crap out into other people's yards.

[Trainwreck20]

Hehe...your link is to the updated version of our leaf blower....it is NOT quiet, though .

I went to the hazardous waste site and found this:

We Cannot Accept
Our facility is not equipped to handle certain kinds of hazardous waste. We cannot accept the following:

• Radioactive waste
• Needles, syringes or medical waste
• Ammunition
• Explosive materials
• Computers or other appliances
• Compressed Gas Cylinders
• Cooking oil
• Any waste generated by a business.

There IS a different site for computers, although Goodwill also takes them and recycles them for you

[twange]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Hehe...your link is to the updated version of our leaf blower....it is NOT quiet, though

I have not met a power tool yet that isn't quiet

BTW, that guy is still blowing stuff around...my animals have still not come back out...

[another_hot-day]

I use a rake...

[love roses]

Yes. In all honesty so do we.