| July 18, 2007
Financial Incentives Offered to Exchange Backpack Leaf Blowers
The Southland’s clean air agency this week kicked off a series of events
to exchange 1,500 older highly polluting professional leaf blowers for
newer, low-emission models.
Exchanging the older blowers for new ones will help protect public health
by reducing nearly 14 tons of smog-forming pollution a year.
“Commercial leaf blowers emit significant amounts of air pollution in
close proximity to our homes, offices and schools,” said Dennis Yates, Mayor
of Chino and a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s
(AQMD) Governing Board. “This program will help protect residents’ and
gardeners’ health by reducing harmful emissions.”
For the second year in a row, AQMD will exchange 1,500 older leaf blowers
for a low-polluting and lower-noise model manufactured by STIHL. The new
blowers will be sold for $200, representing a $270 discount from the retail
price of $470. The old blowers will be scrapped.
In one year, the average blower emits as much pollution as 80 new cars,
each driven 12,500 miles. In contrast, the STIHL models are nearly four
times cleaner than the California Air Resources Board’s standard for new
blowers.
In addition to causing air pollution, leaf blowers are a frequent source
of complaints due to their loud noise. 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 40 times quieter than a two-stroke
backpack blower’s average level of 79 decibels.
To qualify for the leaf blower exchange, participants must pre-register
by calling (888) 425-6247. The program is open to professional gardeners
and landscapers who 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.
All events will start at 8 a.m. and end at approximately 1 p.m. and will
be held at the following locations:
Wednesday, July 18
Chino Mower & Engine Service
13546 Central Avenue., Chino
Thursday, July 19
Temple City Lawnmower
9654 Lower Azusa Road, Temple City
Tuesday, July 24
B&M Lawn & Garden
17672 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda
Wednesday, July 25
Greenland Supply, Inc.
826 S. La Brea Ave., Inglewood
Thursday, July 26
Simon's Power Equipment
12117 Vanowen St., North Hollywood
AQMD’s leaf blower exchange program is modeled on the agency’s highly
successful residential lawn mower exchange program. Since 2003, AQMD has
exchanged more than 16,000 highly polluting gas-powered mowers for
zero-emitting electric models.
The program is funded with $267,000 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.
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