[Durham INC] Durham Hosts "Get Your Grass Off Gas" April 9 & May 14

[Blalock, Amy]

City of Durham

County of Durham

 

Joint News Release

 

For Immediate Release: March 22, 2011

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist, City of Durham

(919) 560-4123, ext. 11253

Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov

 

Dawn D. Dudley

Public  Information Specialist, County of Durham

(919) 560-0008

DDudley at DurhamCountyNC.gov

 

 

Durham Hosts "Get Your Grass Off Gas" Events April 9 & May 14

Two Opportunities to Purchase Deeply-Discounted Electric Equipment

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Durham residents looking to trade in their old
gas-guzzling mowers and other yard equipment should mark their calendars
now for two events providing steep discounts on cleaner and greener
electric versions.

 

The Durham City-County Sustainability Office is partnering with Black &
Decker(r) to host "Get Your Grass Off Gas," two events that will offer
discounted electric yard and garden equipment to help get polluting
gasoline-powered equipment "off the grass" and into the recycling bin.
Discounts will range from 20 percent to 57 percent off depending on the
model.

 

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., residents can stop
by Northern High School, located at 117 Tom Wilkinson Road, Durham, to
recycle their old gas equipment and purchase their new discounted
electric equipment. The second lawn equipment trade-in event will be
held on Saturday, May 14, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jordan High
School, located at 6806 Garrett Road, Durham.

 

According to Tobin Freid, manager of the Durham City-County
Sustainability Office, small engines from gas-powered lawn equipment are
actually big polluters of the air. "Most people do not associate air
pollution with mowing the lawn, yet emissions from gasoline-powered lawn
mowers, leaf blowers, chain saws, and similar outdoor power equipment
are a significant source of pollution," Freid said. "The Environmental
Protection Agency estimates that using a standard gas-powered lawn mower
for one hour produces as much smog-forming pollution as driving an
average car almost 200 miles."

 

New manufacturing rules will begin to address such pollution sources in
2011 and 2012 models. However, small engines in use now in just about
every yard in Durham emit high levels of carbon monoxide, which is a
colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas. "Not only do these small engines
emit this toxic gas, they also emit tiny particles that cause lung and
heart problems, as well as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, which are
pollutants that contribute to the formation of ozone and smog," Freid
said. "Ground-level ozone is a pollutant that irritates lungs and can
affect breathing. Gas-powered yard equipment users inadvertently
contribute to the problem by carelessly handling fuel and by not
maintaining their equipment properly."

 

Residents who want to make a difference in Durham's air quality and take
advantage of these opportunities to purchase cleaner equipment should
visit www.GreenerDurham.net for more information or to pre-register to
reserve specific electric equipment. Pre-registration is not required,
however event organizers cannot guarantee a particular model will be
available on either day without pre-registration. All gas-powered
equipment brought in to recycle at either event must be drained of
fluids before being dropped off. For information on proper fluids
disposal, visit the City's website at 
www.DurhamNC.gov/departments/solid/wr_transfer.cfm.

 

At the April 9th event, the Durham Soil and Water Conservation District
will have rain barrels, composters, and birdhouses available onsite for
purchase with cash or check. Pre-registration is recommended to ensure
these items will be available. To pre-register, visit 
www.DurhamCountyNC.gov/departments/swcd or call (919)560-0558. 

 

For more information about either of these trade-in events, contact
Freid at (919) 560-7999 or by e-mail at TFreid at DurhamCountyNC.gov or
Melissa McCullough by e-mail at MMcCullough at DurhamCountyNC.gov. 

 

Residents may also learn more by visiting the Durham City-County
Sustainability Office's Facebook page at 
www.Facebook.com/GreenerDurham.net. 

 

For more information about Black & Decker, visit www.BlackandDecker.com.


 

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