-
May 30, 2007 10:48 am US/Mountain
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Council Fights Ozone With Mower Recycling
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The summer ozone season begins in the metro area June 1 and that has prompted the Regional Air Quality Council to start a lawnmower recycling program.
Sara O'Keefe with the council stopped by the CBS4 Saturday morning weekend show to explain the program to anchors Ericka Lewis, Dave Aguilera and Arturo Santiago.
"Gasoline powered mowers contribute to about 10 percent of Denver's ground level ozone," she said. "Any models manufactured after 1997 are a little bit better but some of the previous ones can emit as much as driving your vehicle from Fort Collins to Denver."
The council has arranged for discounted prices on battery-powered lawnmowers plus giving rebates for both purchasing the battery lawnmowers and another rebate if you get rid of your gasoline-powered lawnmower.
Reducing ground level ozone is considered a health issue.
"In the upper atmosphere, it protects us from the sun's harmful UV rays," said O'Keefe. "At the ground when we are breathing it, it can exasperate or trigger symptoms in people with asthma and other breathing ailments."
"Even healthy people who are exercising or working outdoors can feel the effects, such as stinging eyes and difficulty breathing."
Additional Resources
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)