How to Get an Electric Lawn Mower Nearby on the Cheap

A message from the South Coast Air Quality Management District:

In early spring, Southland residents had an opportunity to register and get up to 75 percent in savings on a new electric lawn mower with the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s popular Lawn Mower Exchange Program. This week, SCAQMD announced the program has been extended to include a fifth and final event this year in San Pedro on Sept. 6.

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.

SCAQMD encourages residents to act fast once registration opens and secure a spot at the event in San Pedro.

“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 & Deckerand 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 or calling 1-888-425-6247. Registration 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.

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.

The exchange event will take place in San Pedro on Saturday, September 6 from 8 a.m. to noon at 3011 Miner St. (Berth 46).

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.

This year’s program is sponsored by the SCAQMD, in cooperation with the California Air Resources Board, Southern California Edison, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, City of Anaheim, City of Pasadena, Long Beach City College, Bourns, Inc., UC Riverside, and Anaheim Public Utilities. The program is funded through SCAQMD’s Air Quality Investment Program (AQIP), which is financed by Southland companies that pay a fee in lieu of offering rideshare incentives as required by SCAQMD’s Rule 2202. The Lawn Mower Exchange Program will offset more emissions than would be achieved by an employer rideshare program.

SCAQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions ofLos Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.