VCAPCD News

County Air Pollution Control District program is replacing polluting tools

(VENTURA, Calif. — Nov. 25, 2024) The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is paying for residents and organizations to swap their polluting gasoline- and diesel-powered landscaping equipment with new zero-emission cordless electric tools.

The Lawn & Garden Equipment Exchange Program will provide a total of $937,500 in vouchers to Ventura County residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, public agencies and public schools. Landscaping businesses and nonprofits can be based outside of Ventura County in California but must derive at least half of their revenue from within the county.

Lawn and garden equipment is a significant source of air pollution in Ventura County that negatively impacts public health. Gas- and diesel-powered tools emit nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and reactive organic compounds, all of which Ventura County needs to reduce to meet state and federal air quality standards. Gas- and diesel-powered landscape equipment also is a source of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Operating a gas-powered commercial leaf blower for one hour emits as much smog-forming pollution as driving a new gas-powered passenger car about 1,100 miles, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Gas and diesel equipment also causes more noise pollution than electric.

Eligible applicants will receive vouchers that they can submit to participating retailers with their old operable equipment, which will be destroyed. The retailers will discount the cost of new equipment with the same function, a charger and additional batteries by the value of the voucher. Voucher amounts range from $200 to $2,000 for each piece of residential equipment and from $700 to $15,000 for commercial models. Total voucher amounts are limited to $4,000 for residential per address and $50,000 for commercial per company.

The vouchers can be used for electric chainsaws, trimmers, edgers, brush cutters, blowers/vacuums, and push and ride-on mowers.

The current retailers are Mac’s Lawnmowers in Newbury Park, Cal-Coast Machinery and Pacific Equipment in Oxnard and Ace Hardware in Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks. People should visit one of the retailers to select replacement equipment and then submit an application and required photos to the retailer or the district. The district will mail vouchers to qualifying applicants.

The equipment exchange is part of the Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Attainment Program operated by the district in partnership with CARB. The Moyer program has been funding cleaner-than-required replacements for high-polluting engines and equipment since 1998. The list of eligible projects expanded in 2023 to include electric landscaping equipment.

For more information and applications, visit https://www.vcapcd.org/lawn-garden-equipment/ or contact Heidy Yupe at heidy@vcapcd.org or 805-303-3655. Retailers interested in joining the program should contact Yupe.