Residents Can Trade for Electric Mowers

To help reduce air pollution, Ventura County and its cities have teamed up for the second year on Project Clean Cut.

The program, which returns this weekend, offers residents a financial incentive to trade in their gasoline-powered lawn mowers for electric ones.

The first 425 county residents to trade in their mowers at participating metal recyclers will receive $100 vouchers toward the purchase of an electric mower. Residents in Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura and the unincorporated areas of Ventura County may qualify for an additional $50 off the price of the electric mower.

Electric mowers are generally more expensive than similar gas-powered mowers. The vouchers can be used to purchase a Toro E24 Carefree cordless electric mower that retails for $329.

Deborah Weinstock, spokeswoman for the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, said this is a good way people can reduce pollution.

Last year, 219 people throughout the county traded in mowers.

Electric mowers turn the grass into mulch, reducing green waste, and are charged for use by plugging them into a socket. They also make little to no noise, officials say.

Project Clean Cut begins Friday and runs through March 16.

Vouchers will be redeemable March 17 to 19 at the Project Clean Cut display at the Ventura County Home and Garden Show at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

For more information, call the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District at 645-1400.