San Diego residents exchange gasoline-powered mowers for electric at 15th annual Mowing Down Pollution event at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Courtesy photo
SAN DIEGO–The 15th annual Mowing Down Pollution lawnmower exchange, which took place for the second consecutive year at Qualcomm Stadium, ended late this morning with 586 zero-emission mowers presented to San Diego County residents who traded in $99.99 and their old gasoline powered machines. The mowers were drained and taken for recycling by Pacific Trans Environmental Services. Since its founding by Supervisor Ron Roberts, the exchange has put 7,630 rechargeable electric mowers into San Diegans’ hands. Do so results in the removal of more than 65,000 pounds of annual air pollutant emissions that otherwise would have been released by operating the old mowers or their gasoline replacements. “It’s a great deal and wonderful way to involve San Diegans in helping clean our air,” said Roberts, who walked the line of participants with a sample mower, joking with couples it would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift. New to this year’s exchange was a 10-foot helium balloon decorated with the words “Lawnmower Exchange” on one side and a drawing of a mower on the other. The balloon helped direct participants to the event’s location in the parking lot. While waiting in line, participants also could look at a selection of all-electric cars brought by SDG&E and Sunroad Automotive, as well as a display of battery-powered garden tools by Black & Decker. A food truck was onsite to feed the crowd. Run by the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District and funded by air pollution fines, the exchange started at 8 a.m. and was over about 11:30 a.m. The highly-rated Black & Decker CM1936 mowers with 19-inch blades and a 36 volt power system retail for about $400. [contextly_auto_sidebar id=”JoncOIjW73e86DToxJZAG63d5syy19sE”]
