Bob Cuddy: Swap that old lawn mower for cleaner air

ow that we’re no longer worried about washing down the creek and into the ocean, it’s a good time to think about hauling out the old two-stroke mower and getting to work on that fast-growing lawn.

I have a suggestion. Don’t fire up that baby; turn it in for an electric job.

Not to sound like a shill, but the county’s Air Pollution Control District is back with a lawn mower exchange pro-gram that will save you money in the long run and help clean the county’s air.

Called the Mow Down Air Pollution Lawn Mower Exchange program, it had a brief run in South County in 2006. At trade-ins in Pismo Beach and Nipomo, residents dumped 240 gas mowers and bought battery-run electric mowers on the cheap.

Just that brief swap saved 25 tons of emissions over the lifetime of the electric mower.

Now that switch is going countywide.

“Gas-fired lawn mowers are one of the dirtiest pieces of machinery out there,” says Larry Allen, air pollution control officer. One hour using a gas mower generates as much smog-forming emissions as 40 automobiles, he says.

Allen can produce a raft of technical supporting evidence complete with obscure scientific terminology. But, in lay-man’s language, gas engines use too much fossil fuel and put out too many greenhouse gases.

We don’t spit out enough junk to make the county’s air as unsafe as the San Joaquin Valley or Los Angeles or (my favorite place to avoid) Riverside. But we cough up some bad stuff.

However, electric lawn mowers aren’t going to solve all the county’s pollution problems.

“There are a lot of strategies we need to implement, and this is one of the tools in the toolbox,” Allen says.

Here are the advantages to electric lawn mowers, according to both the district and to those who have used them:

First, they’re less noisy. No more forcing the neighbors to shut their windows as you and your two-stroke trudge loudly across your lawn.

Second, you don’t have to buy gasoline anymore. That may seem cruel toward the people who control Mobil and Exxon stock, but for most ordinary folks, pocketing the few extra bucks will lessen the guilt.

Third, you’re cleaning the air. What’s not to like?

Allen and the district are preparing a spring rollout, and they will have 615 electric mowers.

Those who want to join the program will have to bring in their old mowers, and Golden State Metals will drain the fluids and recycle them.

The Neuton Lawn Mower company will sell new mowers to participants for $160 including sales tax.

The district has events planned for May 3, 17 and 31. Although it has not yet specified locations, one will be in the North County, probably Paso Robles; one will be centrally located, most likely in San Luis Obispo; and a third in Nipomo.

Allen also plans to launch a publicity campaign.

It’s enough to make a fellow act like an old mower and get fired up.