Australia imports more than one million outdoor power tools each year, including lawnmowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, chippers, and pressure washers. Operating a commercial leaf blower for just one hour produces the same amount of air pollutants as driving 1,700 kilometres, according to the California Air Resources Board. That is roughly the distance from Melbourne to Brisbane. An hour of lawn mowing is equivalent to driving about 480 kilometres.
The Environmental Cost of DIY Culture
Most Australians consider themselves DIYers, with trips to the hardware store a regular weekend activity. About 57 per cent say they are happy to tackle home and garden repairs, according to one survey. However, this culture comes at an environmental cost, from noise and air pollution caused by petrol-powered mowers and blowers to the waste generated by tools bought new and used only once.
Petrol-powered tools run on two-stroke or four-stroke engines, producing toxic exhaust containing carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and fine particles. They also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. On a summer weekend in Australia, these small non-road engines can contribute up to 20 per cent of certain air pollutants, including carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds. In California, they overtook cars as the main source of smog-forming pollution in 2020.
Switch from Petrol to Electric
Harry Barber, a transport consultant and volunteer at Electrify Yarra, says battery-electric alternatives are now available for most home and garden power tools. There is no need to keep petrol in the shed. Whether it is a mower, blower, whipper-snipper, or chainsaw, everything can be electric. Switching to electric power tools is far more affordable than upgrading to an electric car, he notes. Most manufacturers sell one battery that works across multiple tools.
Electric tools eliminate air pollutants and greenhouse emissions, are much quieter, and do not produce the distinctive burnt oil smell of two-stroke engines. Australian governments banned the sale of two-stroke tools in 2020 due to their polluting effects, though many homes still use them. Dozens of cities across the United States have banned petrol-powered leaf blowers or introduced incentives for electric lawn equipment.
Tool Libraries: Borrow Instead of Buy
Accessing high-quality tools need not involve a trip to the hardware store. A growing network of tool libraries across Australia allows people to pay a membership fee to borrow tools instead of buying them. These libraries strengthen communities, reduce waste, and save money.
The Brunswick Tool Library, operating for 13 years in Melbourne's inner north, is the largest in the country, with nearly 1,400 members and dozens of active volunteers. President Zack Morris says borrowing tools instead of buying them benefits sustainability, affordability, and space, as many inner-city residents lack storage. People often buy single-use tools that sit in garages for years or get thrown out, contributing to overconsumption. Cheap, poorly made tools worsen the problem.
The volunteer-led not-for-profit focuses on durable, high-quality tools. Its inventory of over 2,000 items ranges from small Allen keys and spanners to large ladders, pressure washers, and lawnmowers. The most popular items are ladders, large vacuums, mulchers, whipper-snippers, and drill kits. The library is also expanding into education, teaching people how to use and repair tools, which is crucial for building a circular economy.
Repair Cafes and Makerspaces
Griffith University Professor Leanne Wiseman says tool libraries help address overconsumption. When tools break, over 100 neighbourhood repair cafes across Australia can fix them, avoiding waste and the need to buy new ones. Australian households own up to eight large appliances and 10 to 15 smaller ones, but power tools often are not built to last. Parts are glued instead of screwed, spare parts are scarce, and batteries and chargers are often incompatible across brands. Increasing use of software in products makes repairs harder.
RepairMonitor data shows pruning shears, electric drills, hedge trimmers, and pressure washers are commonly brought in for repair. In addition, the City of Melbourne's libraries host Makerspaces with onsite access to sophisticated tools like sewing machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, and soldering equipment. Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece says there has been an upswing in crafting and repair. 3D printers are used to print replacement parts, while sewing machines repair clothing. The goal is to build a city that knows how to make and repair things, rejecting a disposable society.
