For Immediate Release

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Upgrade Your Mower and Mow Down Pollution
“Mow Down Pollution” Lawnmower Exchange Event begins June 18

Denver, Colo. (June 15, 2005) – “Mow Down Pollution” is an eight-day lawn equipment exchange beginning June 18. Metro area citizens are invited to visit participating Home Depot locations where they can purchase new, earth-friendly Black & Decker electric and cordless lawnmowers and trimmers at a deeply discounted price while supplies last, when they retire their old, gas-powered lawn equipment.

The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is partnering with Black & Decker, The Home Depot and metro area local governments to host the event.

“Older, gas-powered lawn mowers and trimmers can be real polluters, spewing emissions which contribute to summertime ground-level ozone formation,” said Ken Lloyd, executive director of the RAQC.

Gas-powered lawn and garden equipment – such as lawnmowers, weed trimmers, and leaf blowers – causes approximately 10 percent of the summertime ozone in the Front Range region. Models manufactured before the 1997 introduction of catalytic converters in lawn equipment are particular culprits.

At ground level, ozone pollution is harmful to all of us, especially the young and elderly. Ozone can also trigger attacks and symptoms in individuals with pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma or other respiratory infections.

Tips on preventing ozone pollution from lawn equipment include:

• Delay mowing until evening – “don’t mow, let it grow.”
• Use a new earth-friendly lawn mower – an electric- or battery-powered mower, a non-motorized push mower, or a new gasoline-powered mower. Avoid using two-stroke gasoline-powered yard equipment, such as weed trimmers, since they emit a disproportionate share of air pollution.
• Maintain your mower to help it run cleaner – change the air filter, oil and spark plugs at least once each season. Keep the underside of the mower free of grass build-up.
• Use a funnel to refuel equipment – avoid even small spills and drips.

The event will take place at seven metro area Home Depot stores located in Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Glendale, Highlands Ranch, Longmont and Thornton (see full list of locations below).

For more information on the Mow Down Pollution lawnmower exchange, please visit www.OzoneAware.org or www.raqc.org or contact Sara O’Keefe (sokeefe@raq.org) at 303-629-5450, ext. 220 or Sarah Schmitz (sschmitz@raqc.org) at ext. 210.

About Regional Air Quality Council
The Regional Air Quality Council is the lead air quality planning agency for the seven-county Denver metropolitan area. In existence since 1989, the Council’s main purpose is to develop plans and programs to keep the region in compliance with federal air quality standards, with significant input from area citizens, business, and local governments. The RAQC also oversees the development and implementation of air quality outreach and education programs throughout the region.

Home Depot locations

Black & Decker models
Citizens who retire old, gas-powered lawn equipment will receive BIG discounts on these electric and cordless Black & Decker models while supplies last:

Black & Decker 24v cordless mulching mower
Event Price $329.97 (normally retails for $449.00)

Black & Decker 19” electric mulching mower
Event Price $179 (normally retails for $229.00)

Black & Decker 12v cordless trimmer
Event Price $59.97 (normally retails for $89.97)

Representatives from the RAQC and Black & Decker will be on site on Saturday, June 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to kick off the event. Consumers who are not able to participate on the 18th will have an opportunity to exchange and/or purchase new, discounted equipment through the following Saturday, while supplies last.


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