Hundreds of metro-area citizens helped to "Mow Down Pollution" Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, 2002 by trading in old, gasoline-powered lawn equipment in exchange for discounts on low- and zero-emission lawnmowers and weed trimmers.

Citizens who retired old, gas-powered lawn equipment received BIG discounts on these low- and zero-emission Black & Decker models.

As part of the "Mow Down Pollution" campaign, The Home Depot and Black & Decker offered discounts on the purchase of selected low- and zero-emission lawnmowers and trimmers. The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), through a community-based Clean Air Grant from the state, provided an additional discount, making all models very affordable (see side bar).

Six metro-area Home Depot stores in Arvada, Aurora, Denver SW, Golden, Parker, and Thornton participated in the event held on Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, 2002 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The RAQC and its partners permanently prevented 2,240 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from entering the Front Range region's air by selling 700 zero-emission mowers and trimmers at the two-day event.  Two hundred of these sales involved lawnmower exchanges, where citizens retired their old, gas-powered equipment when they purchased the zero-emission models.  VOCs combine with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone pollution, which causes breathing problems and respiratory infections in the elderly, the young, and those with pre-existing ailments.

Gas-powered lawn and garden equipment – such as lawnmowers, weed trimmers, and leaf blowers – cause approximately 10 percent of the summertime ozone in the Front Range region.  Models manufactured before the 1997 introduction of catalytic converters in lawn equipment are particular culprits. 

In addition to reducing harmful VOC emissions in the Front Range region, the "Mow Down Pollution" campaign educated thousands of metro-area citizens about the contribution of lawn equipment to summertime ozone. Public education campaigns were placed  through targeted print and radio advertising, the placement of articles in the press, articles in community newspapers, and educational booths at the "Mow Down Pollution" events, themselves.

For more information on the "Mow Down Pollution" lawnmower exchange contact Sara O’Keefe at  303-629-5450, ext. 220 or email.