Feb. 21, 2006
Leaf Blower Valued at $460 Available for $200 With Trade-In of Old
Blower
The Southland’s air quality agency today launched the state’s first
incentive program to exchange 1,500 highly polluting, backpack leaf blowers
used by professional gardeners and landscapers with new low-polluting,
low-noise models.
“At the same time that leaf blowers are cleaning up our yards and
gardens, they are dirtying our air,” said Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley,
Governing Board Member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
“These machines are a significant source of smog-forming emissions. In
one year, the average two-stroke backpack leaf blower emits as much
pollution as 80 new cars.”
The blowers in the exchange program, manufactured by STIHL Inc., are
nearly five times cleaner than the California Air Resources Board’s most
stringent standard for new blowers. By scrapping 1,500 old blowers and
replacing them with low-emission STIHL blowers, the program will reduce at
least 14 tons per year of smog-forming emissions.
“Ten years ago, the basic two-stroke engine was quite dirty,” said Dan
Skinner, a branch manager for STIHL. “Technology advancements over the past
several years have significantly reduced emission levels. Today, we are
pleased to be sharing the STIHL
4-MIX® engine, which offers some of the cleanest technology currently
available.”
Modeled after AQMD’s highly successful residential lawnmower exchange
program, the air quality agency is sponsoring six events across the
Southland in February and March where professional gardeners and landscapers
can exchange their current gas-powered, backpack blower for a new STIHL
low-emission blower. (See schedule of events below.) The STIHL BR 500
blower is a gas-powered, non-traditional four-stroke model that also has one
of the lowest noise ratings -- 65 decibels or about 14 percent quieter than
the average two-stroke backpack blower.
In addition to emitting a significant amount of air pollution, the
estimated 49,000 commercial backpack leaf blowers in the Southland are a
frequent source of complaints due to their loud noise and tendency to create
large clouds of dust. At each exchange event, STIHL
representatives will train gardeners in the proper use of the blowers to
minimize suspension of dust.
Professional gardeners and landscapers can get a new STIHL BR 500
backpack blower, with a retail value of $460, for just $200 by trading in
their old, working blower at one of AQMD’s six events.
Participants must pre-register by calling (888) 425-6247. The program is
open to professional gardeners and landscapers that live and work in AQMD’s
four-county jurisdiction. Each gardening and landscaping business may
exchange up to 10 blowers. Cash, checks or major credit cards will be
accepted.
Today’s event is being held at Toro’s Lawn Mower Center, 3238 Foothill
Blvd. in La Crescenta. All events will start at 8 a.m. and end at 2 p.m.
The remaining five events will be held at the following locations:
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Lawn Mower Center
1690 Main St., Riverside
Thursday, Feb. 23
Chino Mower
13546 A Central Ave., Chino
Tuesday, March 7
Norwalk Park
13200 Clarksdale Ave., Norwalk
Wednesday, March 8
Greenland Supply Inc.
120 N. Ash Ave., Inglewood
Thursday, March 9
Adams Park
2302 South Raitt (at Warner), Santa Ana
The program is funded by $225,000 from AQMD’s Air Quality Investment
Program, which is financed by Southland companies that pay a fee in lieu of
offering rideshare incentives as required by AQMD’s Rule 2202. The leaf
blower exchange program will reduce more emissions than would be achieved by
an employer rideshare program.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
For more information on leaf blowers, see “Leaf Blowers: A Guide to Safe
& Courteous Use” at
http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/LeafBlowerTraining.pdf.
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