BALTIMORE (April 15, 1998) -- In an effort to make Maryland's air cleaner this summer, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is offering rebates of $50 on purchases of electric and rechargeable mulching mowers and $15 on push mowers for each operating gasoline-powered mower turned in during "Cash-for-Clippers" events on designated weekends during April and May at various sites throughout the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

The department has created a partnership between Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties as well as BGE, PEPCO, Black & Decker, the American Lung Association and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to implement the program.

MDE is offering these incentives because pollution from lawn mowers, particularly older equipment, contributes measurably to the problem of ground-level ozone. Using a typical gasoline-powered lawn mower for one hour produces the same amount of air pollution as driving a car for 50 miles. Ground-level ozone, a colorless, odorless gas formed by the interaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sunlight, adversely impacts 600,000 Marylanders with chronic respiratory ailments. In addition, by recycling lawn wastes through the use of electric or rechargeable mulching mowers, we can keep wastes out of landfills and incinerators. During peak summer and fall months, yard trimmings can represent as much as 25 to 50 percent of municipal solid waste.

"Cash-for-Clippers will educate the public about their role in air quality issues by retiring several hundred gasoline-powered lawn mowers from the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. region during the spring of 1998," said Maryland Secretary of the Environment Jane T. Nishida. "Maryland's air quality will benefit from the reduced emissions and citizens will realize that they can make a difference."

Participants are asked to bring their gasoline-powered lawn mowers to county hazardous waste sites. Gasoline and oil should be drained and placed in separate containers. A rebate form will be given to the participant and signed by an MDE representative to verify that a gasoline-powered lawn mower was turned in and disposed of properly. Rebate forms will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

Once the customer purchases an electric, rechargeable mulching mower, or push mower, the customer should send the rebate form, original receipt, and the UPC code from the new mower to: MDE/ARMA, Division of Planning, 2500 Broening Highway, Baltimore, MD 21224. The rebate forms and other documentation must be completed and sent to MDE by July 31, 1998. A rebate check in the amount of $50 (for electric or rechargeable mulching mowers) or $15 (for manual push mowers) will be sent to the participant.

One hundred rebates will be issued in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties and Baltimore City. Harford County officials will be taking the first 40 interested participants who are asked to call (410) 638-3417 to set up an appointment to drop off the gasoline-powered mowers.

Gasoline Powered lawn mowers are being accepted at the following locations and dates:

• Anne Arundel County, Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Heritage Office Complex
  2662 Riva Road
  Annapolis, MD
  (410) 222-7951

• Baltimore County, Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Oregon Ridge Park
  13401 Beaver Dam Road
  Cockeysville, MD
  (410) 887-2000

• Charles County, Saturday, April 18, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Hechingers Store
  1000 Smallwood Road
  Waldorf, MD
  (301) 870-2778

• Baltimore City, Saturday, May 2, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Poly Tech High School
  Corner of Coldspring Lane and Falls Road, Baltimore
  (410) 396-5918

• Baltimore City, Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Memorial Stadium Parking Lot
  (410) 396-5918

• Frederick County, Saturday, April 25, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  County Landfill Administration Building
  9031 Reichs Ford Road
  Frederick, MD
  (301) 631-3042

• Harford County, Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Harford County Waste Disposal Center
  (410) 638-3417

• Howard County, Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  County Landfill
  2350 Marriottsville Road
  Marriottsville, MD
  (410) 313-6444

• Montgomary County, Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  Solid Waste Station
  Shady Grove Road
  1/10th mile east of Route 355
  (301) 217-2770

• Prince George's County, Sunday May 3, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  Friendly High School
  1000 Allentown Road
  Fort Washington, MD
  (301) 883-3045

For more information about the program, call the Cash-for-Clippers hot line at (410) 631-4486.

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