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Pima County has added a sixth drop-off location to its Pollution Reduction Program, making it easier for Marana-area residents to obtain vouchers for electric or battery-powered lawn and garden supplies.

This is a volunteer program run by Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) allows Pima County residents and commercial businesses to submit working gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment in exchange for coupons that can be used toward the purchase of electrical equipment or manual landscaping tools.

Since the program's inception four years ago, more than 1,150 lawn mowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and more have been retired, reducing air pollution by nearly 600 tonnes and emitting an estimated 1,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas. Ta.

While some commercial businesses have made the switch, most lawn mowers and other equipment are turned over by residents who use the equipment to maintain their personal property.

“Many participants enjoy the ease of working with electrical equipment as opposed to dealing with smelly, cumbersome and cumbersome gasoline-powered equipment,” said PDEQ, which runs the pollution reduction program. said Karen Wilhelmsen.

“Because electrical equipment is quiet compared to gasoline-powered equipment, it also helps keep the peace with neighbors who can hear loud noises through closed windows and doors. I feel satisfied in fulfilling my role.”

The process begins with an online application: www.pima.gov/CutPollution. If the application is approved, the participant will receive an email with her one return confirmation form for each accepted device. They bring the form along with the equipment to one of her six return locations listed on the form.

Staff at the drop-off location will pick up the equipment, render it inoperable, and recycle it if necessary.

The signed, dated, and stamped form will be returned to the participant, who will email the form to: CutPollution@pima.gov As evidence that the equipment has been abandoned. PDEQ will then issue vouchers to purchase motorized lawn and garden equipment or manual landscaping tools at any of his six Home Depot stores in the Tucson metro area.

Residents can purchase one gas lawn mower ($150 voucher) and up to five different gas handheld devices (each $50 voucher), including one leaf blower, one string trimmer, and one edger. You can submit them for a total of $400 worth of vouchers. Commercial businesses may submit an unspecified number of lawn mowers ($200 vouchers) and devices ($50 each).

For more information about the program, please visit: www.pima.gov/CutPollution Or call us at 520-273-9898. This program is funded by a grant from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

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