A stark contradiction has emerged regarding clean air initiatives across several UK cities. A recent investigation reveals that local councils operating Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are often failing to uphold their environmental standards by continuing to utilize petrol-powered maintenance equipment, even as they levy charges – sometimes reaching £120 – on drivers of non-compliant vehicles.
Despite implementing restrictions on diesel and gasoline cars within designated CAZ areas, many councils persist in using traditional petrol tools for tasks such as landscaping and groundskeeping. This inconsistency exposes a significant flaw in clean air policy implementation.
The discrepancy is particularly concerning when considering the emissions generated by these seemingly minor pieces of equipment. Tools like leaf blowers and hedge trimmers have been shown to release pollutants comparable to, or even surpassing, those emitted by standard automobiles.
Freedom of Information requests unveiled that a significant majority – 60 per cent – of council-operated tools within Clean Air Zones still rely on environmentally damaging petrol engines.
Birmingham City Council faced the most criticism in the report, with 100% of their equipment within the CAZ powered by petrol. The daily operation of over sixty such tools inside Birmingham’s zone was found to be releasing harmful pollutants – a direct contradiction of the area’s stated purpose.
Drivers entering Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone face a daily charge of £8 for non-compliant vehicles, with penalties of up to £120 for failing to pay. Similar instances of petrol-powered equipment usage were identified in several London boroughs operating under the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
Independent emissions testing conducted by EGO Power Plus and Millbrook revealed alarming levels of pollution from some petrol-powered gardening tools. The results showed these devices emitted 11 times more carbon monoxide and four times more nitrogen oxides than a Ford Fiesta.
However, the situation isn’t uniformly bleak. Some local councils are demonstrating commendable progress in adopting cleaner maintenance practices:
- Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (London): 100% transitioned to battery-powered equipment.
- Sheffield Council: 85% of tools now utilize battery power.
- Brent (London): 90% of tools are battery-powered, reflecting a strong commitment to emissions reduction.
“The sustainability challenge is something that faces every local authority across the UK, and the removal of highly-polluting outdoor power equipment has a role to play,” stated Vince Brauns, Product Director at EGO Power Plus. “While it’s encouraging to see a handful of councils have fully adopted battery power to maintain outdoor spaces, others still have a journey ahead of them.”
Brauns further emphasized the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of transitioning to battery-powered alternatives: “Transitioning to battery power can be done in an easy-to-manage and cost-effective manner, maximising council resources while supporting the drive towards cleaner air and greater levels of sustainability.”
