In 2024, The City of Toronto’s Environment and Climate Division was directed by Toronto City Council to undertake the necessary steps to study a proposed ban on the use of two-stroke small engine equipment. The City of Toronto consulted with Landscape Ontario (LO) about the implications of a potential ban on the landscape sector and engaged the association to research and produce a report on the feasibility of industry adoption of battery-powered equipment.
Completed in April 2025, the Beyond Gas-Powered Equipment: Exploring a Zero-Emissions Future in Landscape Horticulture report details the landscape industry’s perspectives on a potential ban, including the overall cost, availability, power output, battery life and recycling options, charging infrastructure requirements, client requests and more.
Over 325 landscape professionals provided feedback — with 71 per cent representing companies with one to 20 employees and 18 per cent with 21-50 employees. Respondents cited various rates and experiences with transitioning their technology — 56 per cent said they have converted about a quarter of their equipment, while about seven per cent said they have fully transitioned.
The report also includes 15 case studies that highlight LO member companies who have transitioned to battery-powered equipment to better understand the successes and challenges they experienced.
Survey results
The survey data demonstrated there are many benefits to transitioning to zero-emissions landscape equipment, including: decreased noise and vibration, ease of start up, operation and training, avoiding mixing and storing fuels, avoiding fuel spills, decreased exhaust exposure for operators, minimized maintenance, fuel savings and reduced environmental impact.
Even though landscape professionals are naturally moving toward battery-powered equipment (only 26 per cent of survey respondents noted they haven’t transitioned any of their equipment to battery), the transition to using battery-powered equipment brings many challenges and barriers. These include high upfront costs, the need for implementing charging infrastructure, limited battery life/runtime, decreased efficiency compared to two-stroke equipment, lack of performance for heavy-duty tasks and battery replacement and disposal.
Many landscape professionals expressed concerns about battery-powered backpack blowers not having enough power to accomplish heavy and potentially wet fall cleanups. There was also concern over battery-powered mowers in the spring when grass is dense, long and wet. Only four per cent of survey respondents answered that battery-powered equipment can tackle these heavy-duty jobs. Some respondents suggested LO should request a spring and fall exemption for two-stroke equipment in these conditions.
It was also determined that most businesses would benefit from a delayed implementation of a potential ban on two-stroke equipment. The majority of survey respondents (42 per cent) requested a gradual transition period of three to seven years.
Overall, survey respondents can see there is a benefit to transitioning their operations to using zero-emissions landscape equipment. LO recognizes there is work to be done within the industry to support this shift.
Toronto decision
In May, the full report was presented to Toronto City Council and later that month a number of decisions were made. These include:
• To not pursue an outright ban on two-stroke engines, but to instead continue to work toward a transition to zero-emission outdoor power equipment by residents and businesses.
• That any new contracts for landscaping services on
City-owned property specify that two-stroke gas-powered engines may not be used if zero-emission equipment is available.
• For the executive director of Environment, Climate and Forestry to report back in 2027 on progress to transition City-owned equipment from two-stroke engine to electric, as well as an update on the communication campaign to encourage Toronto businesses and residents to choose quieter, zero-emission equipment. Their report will also include an update on any other jurisdictions in North America that are transitioning internal operations to
zero-emission outdoor power equipment or have enacted community restrictions or bans.
Full report available
Landscape Ontario members can access the full 110-page report in digital format for free by logging in to the online member portal at members.landscapeontario.com and clicking on
My Dashboard where the report can be found under
Premium Content Library. Non-members can purchase
a digital download report for $49 (CAD) or a printed copy
for $69 (CAD) for delivery in Canada via a link at gfl.me/hbTo.
