PRN’s Water Resources Scientist, Stacy James, reminds our neighbors, in a letter to the editor recently published in The News-Gazette, that raking leaves is the best way to clean up:

It’s autumn, and the leaves are falling once again, covering lawns and choking storm sewers. It’s time to get out the rakes.

Yet far too often, lawn care companies and residents waste gas on small jobs that don’t warrant an engine. Not only are leaf blowers incredibly loud, they also stir up dust, mold and allergens. Running one produces polluted emissions equivalent to that of several cars. If you want to make a difference in the wake of dwindling fuels and a warming planet, the increased use of muscle power is a clean and healthy step to take.