The Westport Republican Town Committee passed an ordinance to significantly limit how and when gas-powered leaf blowers could be used in the town.

the ordinance was past Tuesday night in a vote 22-9.

Opponents say gas-powered leaf blowers are not only noisy but cause unhealthy pollution.

Landscapers counter that while battery-operated leaf blowers exist, they are more suited for homeowners than professionals. They say the battery-operated equipment is far more expensive and less powerful and would make doing their work harder and take longer to complete.

"I think people think we are, like, the bad guys -- we are not. We are working with the tools we have at hand. I would love to be more environmentally friendly, with the equipment we have but it isn't there yet, it just hasn't been developed yet," said Jeff Duncan, owner Duncan's Gardening and Landscaping.

A proposal to limit gas leaf blowers has been tossed around for two years.

The Westport ordinance does have some exceptions. Gas leaf blowers could be used for a designated period in the spring and the fall and golf courses are exempt, along with town property.

While some landscapers are against the measure, there were some News 12 spoke with already working without gas-powered equipment.

The ordinance will not go into effect until next summer.