In the latest example of the environmentalist cause going too far, the New Jersey State Senate has voted to move forward with a bill that would ban gas-powered leaf blowers within the next four years.

The original version of the bill states that the use of gas-powered leaf blowers – staple products relied upon by contractors and consumers alike for affordable and accessible lawncare – emit high levels of pollutants. This, the bill alleges, may contribute to acid rain and smog formation. It also claims that noise pollution from the machines is capable of causing hearing loss and that they blow dust and particles during their use.

Proposed by Senator Bob Smith of Middlesex and Sommerset, New Jersey Senate Bill 217 would prohibit the sale of two stroke engine leaf blowers – by far the most common and affordable type of leaf blower – within two years of the bill’s passage and prohibit use of these leaf blowers within four years. In addition, the bill would ban the use and operation of four stroke engines in residential areas. For non-residential areas, their use would be limited to just four months of the year.

Although these limits are watered down from the blanket ban initially proposed, they represent a clear attack upon consumer freedom and place a new burden on both businesses and the general public.

New Jersey’s proposed ban follows in the footsteps of other states and localities that have attempted to limit consumer choice. California banned the sale of all gas-powered leaf blowers as of January 1st, 2024, while many cities throughout the nation, including the District of Columbia, have passed local ordinances to prevent their use. 

Following a warning for the first offense, the bill would impose a fine of $1,000 for infractions regarding the commercial use of these leaf blowers, and a $25 fine for anyone else using the banned blowers.

Rich Goldstein, president of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association, explained the problems for companies to  comply with the new law saying, “New Jersey is bombarded with leaves and stuff to clean up. We’re not California, we’re not Florida. We have leaves. The average house in New Jersey, you take away 30 to 50 cubic feet of leaves each fall. That’s a lot of leaves.”

For Goldstein’s company, the new bill would represent the need to replace up to $200,000 worth of gas leaf blowers. He added that it’s more than just the cost of replacement, “It’s retrofitting your truck to be able to charge batteries throughout the day. And by doing that, you’d have to keep your diesel engine running, and that causes another issue. This is just a terrible idea.”

Although electric leaf blowers may be a good choice for some individuals, this should be a personal choice. For example, electric blowers are generally less powerful, and to achieve greater performance, gas-powered models are typically necessary. Additionally, they are largely limited to less than two hours of battery capacity, which makes them unsuitable for those living in wooded areas. These electric leaf blowers also generally come with a warranty of just 80 days, in stark contrast to the standard five-year warranty on gas-powered blowers.

New Jersey’s proposed ban limits the options of consumers and contractors. Once again, government is dictating the choices in the market, and in doing so, preventing individuals and businesses from buying and using leaf blowers that would best meet their needs.

With 13 prospective renters competing for every vacant apartment in North Jersey, the area continues to have one of the most competitive rental markets in the nation halfway through 2024.

RentCafe, in its recent Hottest Rental Markets report, named North Jersey as the third most competitive rental market in the nation, a title the region has held since the start of 2024. The area had been the hottest renting spot in the nation at the start of 2023, but finished off the year as the second.

North Jersey — including Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Sussex, Hudson and Union counties in the report — ranks just behind No. 1 Miami-Dade County and No. 2 Suburban Chicago.

What is the rental market like in North Jersey, and the Northeast?

With a Rental Competitive Index score of 82.3, North Jersey continues to have the hottest real estate market in the Northeast.

Of all of the apartments in North Jersey, only 0.60% of them are new. And North Jersey has one of the highest occupancy rates in the nation at 96%.  The region also has a significant lease renewal rate of 71.7%, and apartments here typically remain vacant for about 43 days.

The report credits a trend known as “hipsturbia” for the consistent rental demand seen throughout North Jersey. The term refers to the phenomenon of younger generations, particularly millennials, flocking to live in areas with suburban charm and urban amenities after being priced out of larger cities.

“Hipsturbia is alive and well in small cities scattered across northern New Jersey — such as Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, Union City, Passaic, Maplewood and Montclair — where renters (including millennials) enjoy walkable downtowns, just enough entertainment and relatively easy access to New York City,” the report said.

The report said this trend also contributed to the 10th place ranking of suburban Philadelphia and the 14th place ranking of Brooklyn, where hipsturbia is king. Also from the Northeast, Bridgeport-New Haven, Connecticut; and Central Jersey made the list, ranking 11th and 17th, respectively.

How has rental competitive changed across the nation?

Overall, the state of the nation’s rental market in 2024 has remained relatively the same from 2023.

Across the country, there are about eight prospective renters competing for every vacant apartment. Rentals have remained vacant for about 46 days, compared to 43 days in 2023, and new apartments still make up 0.61% of all available rentals across the nation.

Additionally, 62.% of renters renewed their leases in 2024, compared to 59.7% in 2023. And about 93.3% of apartments across the nation are occupied, compared to 94% in 2023.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) — Ever wondered where the shells of the oysters eaten in Atlantic City end up? 

It’s not a landfill. Instead, they’re returned to the place they were first scooped up. 

And now, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection plans to expand its program to recycle oyster shells after receiving more than $1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The Shell Recycling Program works by collecting used oyster shells from restaurants and casinos in Atlantic City before transporting them to a barge. Using high-powered water cannons, crews spray the shells off the barge into the Mullica River.

NJDEP fisheries biologist Scott Stueber said oysters need a hard base, like shells, to survive, and without enough shell, they can die.

Recycling oyster shells instead of throwing them away, Stueber said, helps New Jersey’s oyster population thrive.

“These are juvenile oysters all over a previously recycled oyster shell,” Steuber demonstrated. “So, you can see that’s one single shell with countless oysters all over it.”

This year, the NJDEP is expected to recycle more than 250 tons of oyster shells collected by restaurants and casinos, including from the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa.

“It’s really important to give back, not just to the community, but to the sea as well,” Deborah Pellegrino, executive director chef at the Borgata, said. “We respect food that we bring in. We know where it comes from and that we want to give back so that we can keep the food populated for the environment.”