Copyright 2004 The New York Times
Company
The New York Times
May 5, 2004
Wednesday
Late Edition - Final
HEADLINE: To Cut Smog,
BYLINE: By BEN BERGMAN
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES, May 4
In the smog capital of the nation, it seems that no
effort to reduce pollution is
too small.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which sets emission rules for
the
Angelenos who turn in their old gasoline mowers will
get a $300 credit toward the purchase of a shiny new $400 electric mower.
"This is the best deal in
Gas mowers and other gas-powered lawn equipment are frequently powered by
antiquated engines that produce much more pollution than newer cars that have sophisticated computers and
engines to comply with the state's emissions standards.
One typical gas-powered lawn mower
pollutes as much in one year as 43 new cars, each driven more than 12,000 miles
annually, according to the air quality agency. It says that retiring 4,000
gas-powered mowers would reduce pollution
by nearly 20 tons annually, which is more than is generated by all oil
refineries in the
Gas mowers redeemed through the program will be destroyed.
Jim Parkinson of
He did not seem nostalgic. "The mower stinks," Mr. Parkinson said.
"It uses gas. It smokes. It's kind of worn out."
Bill Becker, executive director of the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials, said that
with
"
He asserted that
Jerry Martin, a spokesman for the California Air Resources Board, said: "
Similar lawn mower buybacks have
taken place across the nation and in
A buyback program that started in the
In