Hundreds turn out for Lawnmower Trade-In Day

In Turkey, Saturday was Children's Day. And in much of the world, it was the day before Easter.

But in San Diego County, it was the 12th annual Lawnmower Trade-In Day.

Any county resident could turn in their gas-powered lawnmower and, in exchange, get to buy a Black and Decker cordless, battery-operated, electric mulching lawnmower for $99 -- regularly priced at about $399.

The event was sponsored by the county Board of Supervisors and the county Air Pollution Control District. Some 5,200 battery-operated, zero-emission lawnmowers have been purchased since the trade-in program began in 2000.

This year, 752 people took the deal, with distribution starting at 8 a.m. The public had been warned that there was a limited number of new mowers. (As it turned out, there were enough for everyone.)

Pat Patterson of National City was the first in line, at 8 p.m. Friday. Second was Frank Alonzo of Chula Vista, who arrived at 1:30 a.m. Most people arrived between 4 and 6 a.m.

Old cars get the rap but, pound for pound, it's old lawnmowers that spew out pollution, officials said.

"The average gasoline-powered lawnmower spews out 40 times more pollution than a late-model car," said county Supervisor Ron Roberts.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Gas-powered lawnmowers were turned in for something newer, less polluting.

Credit: San Diego County government