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DATE:
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April 22, 2008
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TO:
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Board of Supervisors
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SUBJECT:
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ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER TRADE-IN PROGRAM (DISTRICT: ALL)
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SUMMARY:
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Overview:
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For the past eight years, the Air Pollution Control Board has held the highly successful Mowing Down Pollution Lawn Mower Trade-in event. At the event, residents turn in their completely equipped and operable gasoline lawnmower with the fuel and oil removed. After the mower has been accepted for exchange, residents receive a new Black & Decker cordless electric lawnmower for $150. All of the old mowers turned in during the event are removed for recycling.
Regional air pollution is reduced as gasoline-powered lawn mowers are exchanged for new cordless rechargeable electric mowers. Some gasoline mowers emit 40 times more pollution per hour than a single late model automobile, while the replacement electric mowers offered by the Board emit zero pollutants.
This is a request to direct the Air Pollution Control Officer to hold this year’s Mowing Down Pollution event on May 17, 2008, and make available up to 420 cordless electric lawn mowers forSan DiegoCountyresidents.
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Recommendation(s):
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SUPERVISOR ROBERTS
- Direct the Director of Purchasing and Contracting to negotiate a purchase agreement with Black and Decker not to exceed $96,000 for up to 420 lawn mowers.
- Direct the Air Pollution Control Officer to hold a Lawn Mower Trade-in Event that exchanges up to 420 gasoline-powered lawn mowers for new, non-polluting cordless rechargeable mowers for $150 each.
- Direct the Air Pollution Control Officer to hold this year’s Lawn Mower Trade-in Event on May 17, 2008, and authorize $10,000 for event costs.
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Fiscal Impact:
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This request is included in the Fiscal Year 2007-08 Air Pollution Control District Operational Plan. The funding source is $106,000 from penalties received for violations of air quality laws. Up to 420 lawn mowers will be purchased for an amount not to exceed $96,000. The remaining $10,000 will be used for the facilities, printed materials, advertising and disposal of old lawn mowers and hazardous waste. If approved, this request will result in no increase in current year costs and revenues and no increase in subsequent years’ costs and revenue. This will require no net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
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Business Impact Statement:
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N/A
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Advisory Board Statement:
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N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Mowing Down Pollution program has been a noteworthy regional success story. At the conclusion of this year’s event, we will have distributed more than 3,919 zero-emission mowers since the launch of the program in 2000. The gain for our communities is a reduction of over 15 tons per year of volatile organic compounds (ozone precursors) emissions. This is equivalent to hourly emissions from approximately 140,760 late model automobiles. Clearly, the Mowing Down Pollution program is making a difference in San Diego’s improved air quality and the quality of life of our citizens.
The mowers, which typically retail for $399 each, will be obtained for a special price of $369 per unit. Residents will pay $150 per unit (including sales tax) and the Air Pollution Control District will offset the remaining balance for each mower.
Residents will be required to drain and properly dispose of the fuel and oil from their existing lawn mowers prior to the exchange. These mowers will also be required to be completely equipped and operable, including but not limited to a properly attached handle, all four wheels, motor, blade, housing, and starting mechanism (rope or switch). To ensure proper disposal of mowers and hazardous materials, a hazardous material hauler and a recycling company will be hired to oversee the destruction and recycling of the large stockpile of exchanged mowers.
A cordless, electric, rechargeable lawn mower has been selected to avoid tripping and electrical hazards that can result from the use of extension cords. Also, the selected model has a mulching feature that will mitigate the volume of clippings into our landfills.
On March 13, 2002 (APCB #1), the Board authorized a continuing waiver of Board Policy A-87 for future-years’ programs so long as Black and Decker remains the only manufacturer of 19-inch rechargeable, cordless, electric lawn mowers. This waiver would no longer be valid if and when another manufacturer(s) enters this specific market or equivalent mowers with equal emissions become commercially available.
In 2008, an alternative mower became available. Neuton® Mower began offering 19-inch rechargeable, cordless, electric lawn mowers. However, the company declined to participate at this year’s event.
Based on customer feedback from prior events, Black and Decker provides customer satisfaction and a quality product.
Respectfully submitted,
RON ROBERTS
Supervisor, Fourth District
