Save money with SCAQMD lawn mower exchange program

Starting April 16, citizens may register to get up to 75 percent in savings on a new electric lawn mower with the South Coast AQMD’s popular Lawn Mower Exchange Program.

Now in its 12th year, the program helps the wallet and air quality by trading residents’ used, highly polluting gas-powered lawn mowers for environmentally friendly, cordless battery-electric models.
This year’s program offers 4,000 mowers for trade-in. SCAQMD encourages residents to act fast once registration opens and secure a spot at one of four events being held this year in Long Beach, Pasadena, Riverside and Anaheim.

“By participating in the Lawn Mower Exchange Program, residents will get a brand new mower that is easier to operate and quieter than a gas model for just a fraction of the retail price,” said William A. Burke, Ed.D., SCAQMD’s Governing Board Chairman. “In addition to taking advantage of this great offer, residents will also help better their community by eliminating air pollution from old gas mowers.”

In fact, an older gas-powered lawn mower can spew more pollution into the air in a single year than a car driven more than 22,000 miles.

Residents have the opportunity to register and choose from one of five Black & Decker and Greenstation battery electric models ranging from $100 to $250:
— Black & Decker 18” 36 volt, $100 (Retail price: $379) (75 percent savings!)
— Black & Decker 19” 36 volt, $180 (Retail price:  $429)
— Black & Decker 19” 36 volt self-propelled, $250 (Retail price: $479)
— Greenstation 20” 24 volt, $160 (Retail price: $430)
— Greenstation 19” 24 volt self-propelled, $230 (Retail price: $470)
To take advantage of this great offer, residents must pre-register at www.aqmd.gov by clicking on the Lawn Mower Exchange banner, or calling 1-888-425-6247. Registration opens April 16 at 8 a.m. and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Exchanging a mower is easy and convenient – only a 10- to 15-minute process – and participants never have to leave their car. Upon arrival, workers will remove the old gas mower from the vehicle and drain it of hazardous fluids prior to its destruction at a metal recycling facility. After payment is made, attendants will place the new, boxed mower in the customer’s vehicle. To view a video on the exchange process, visit www.aqmd.gov.

Residents must be at least 18 years old to participate in the program. Gas-powered mowers must be in working order and only one mower per household can be exchanged. Cash, check or major credit cards are accepted for payment.

All exchange events will take place at the following locations on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon:

May 3 in Long Beach

May 17 in Pasadena

June 14 in Riverside

June 28 in Anaheim

When the program ends this summer, SCAQMD will have scrapped more than 55,000 highly polluting gasoline mowers, removing almost 114 tons of smog-forming pollutants from the Southland’s air.