PHOENIX (March 19, 2019) – Want to help keep our air clean and save money? The Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD), in partnership with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), is relaunching the Mowing Down Pollution Program. The program encourages consumers to retire polluting gas powered lawn mowers and/or hand-held lawn and garden devices in favor of new electric or battery operated replacements.
The Mowing Down Pollution Program provides Maricopa County residents with the opportunity to purchase a new electric or battery powered lawn mower when they turn in their old gas powered lawn mower. This year the program is being expanded to include other types of gas powered lawn and garden devices, including leaf blowers, trimmers, edgers and chainsaws.
Participants will receive a $150 voucher toward the cost of a new electric or battery powered lawn mower and/or a $50 voucher toward the cost of a new electric or battery powered lawn and garden device at participating Home Depot stores, when their gas powered lawn mower and/or lawn and garden devices are recycled.
“The Mowing Down Pollution Program is one of many ways Maricopa County is partnering with local businesses and residents to improve air quality,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. “The program prevented more than 20 tons of pollution in its first year, and I’m hopeful this year even more people will take advantage of this incentive to save money and clean up our air.”
In 2018, with help from residents, MCAQD was able to recycle 893 lawn mowers which resulted in a reduction of 23.1 tons of pollution for the year. In 2019 MCAQD will have 1,600 lawn mower vouchers available and an additional 1,000 vouchers available for lawn and garden devices.
For more information or to apply for the residential Mowing Down Pollution Program, please visit: CleanAirMakeMore.com/lawn
###
About Maricopa County Air Quality Department
The mission of the Maricopa County Air Quality Department is to improve the air of Maricopa County so customers, residents and visitors can live, work and play in a healthy environment. The department is governed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and follows air quality standards set forth by the federal Clean Air Act.
The department offers air quality information and resources on its Clean Air Make More website. Visit CleanAirMakeMore.com to learn more.
Follow us on Twitter: @cleanairmakemor
Like us on Facebook: @CleanAirMakeMore
Follow us on Instagram: @maricopacountycleanair
Download our Clean Air Make More app! It is free to download and use and is available on iTunes for iPhone and iPad and on Google Play for Android.