Ditch the lawn mower and cut pollution

According to the EPA, 5% of U.S. air pollution is generated by lawn mowers alone and another 5% by all other gas-powered yard equipment. As a gardener or home landscaper how to mow your lawn has likely crossed your mind at one point. If one goal is clean air and a healthy lawn then you’ll want to rethink gas-powered lawn mowers.

The EPA says that while lawn mowers are small, and seem harmless, the real issue is that so many people own them. Since they’re widely used, the levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, released by all mowers are large and seep right into the air and your community.

What’s better than a gas powered mower?

• Less lawn or low-maintenance turf grasses or grass/flower seed mixtures. These mixes grow slower and require less overall mowing.
• Push mowers! Eco-friendly and great free exercise.
• Solar powered lawn mowers
• Electric lawn mowers – not great because they use electricity, but still cleaner than gas-powered.
• Propane powered lawn mowers
• Proper maintenance of your gas powered mower. IF you just love your gas powered lawn mower, and can’t give it up, make sure you keep it in excellent working order which means it’ll run better, and use less gas. Also do your best to prevent spills of gas because gasoline that spills evaporates and pollutes the soil and air (tip – a funnel is your friend).
• If you had a gas-powered mower, and are ditching it, find out where you can recycle it.

If you exchange your old gas-powered lawn mower in, you may save money too. Try the Lawn Mower Exchange Program Calculator to see how an electric or reel mower can improve air quality and save you cash.

What sort of lawn mower do you use?

[image via stock.xchng]