When our next-door neighbor called over the fence to talk lawns, I gulped. Our lots are a study in contrasts. Manicured weekly by a crew wielding fossil fuel-fired mowers, edgers and trimmers, Louise’s lush yard merits a magazine cover. My no-frills lot is tended by a spouse-powered reel mower and shears.
The cacophony of weed-whacking weekend lawn warriors drove me to ask environmental educator Julie Coon about the effect of America’s landscaping lust. “Lawns are not natural, therefore they require many inputs and strain our environment.”
Green’s not always green, the Johnson County, Kansas expert notes. Lawn equipment users spill about 17 million gallons of fuel a year when refilling outdoor power equipment, more oil spilled than the Exxon Valdez. Gas-powered lawn equipment generates nearly 10 percent of ozone pollution — which impairs breathing, aggravates asthma and damages vegetation. Mowers, weed-whackers and blowers aren’t subject to emission regulations, so they spew far more pollution per hour than do cars. Not ready to push a reel mower?
Here are easier ways to cut lawn-care pollution and costs:
» Switch from a gas to electric mower. That’ll keep 70 pounds of volatile organic compounds from entering the air each season. The electricity will average just $3 per year. Corded or cordless, electric’s quieter than gas.
» Some municipalities offer gas mower turn-in programs.
» Hooked on gas? Switch to equipment meeting Environmental Protection Agency’s 2012 standards.
» A 4-cycle engine beats 2-cycle (gas/oil mix) because it halves the pollution.
» Get a “no-spill” gas can.
» Don’t dump old fuel. Contact your county for hazardous waste disposal.
And apply these smart old-school practices:
» Leave grass clippings on the lawn; they nourish and hydrate the soil.
» Compost clippings and leaves into reusable organic matter. Nearly one-fifth of municipal solid waste collected is yard waste, much of it ending up in landfills.
» Let it grow. Longer grass (about 3 inches) has stronger roots, retains water better, and is less vulnerable to weeds and pests.
» Keep mower blades sharp.
» Use hand tools. Like reel mowers, mulchers, rakes, hoes and shovels cut air and noise pollution and provide a productive fresh-air workout you don’t get in the gym.
» Share tools. Manufacturing new things uses raw materials and energy.
So, what did my neighbor say about our humble lawn? “It looks really nice.” When a traditionalist praises different shades of green, sustainable looks more attainable.
Robin Tierney is a freelancer who writes about health and environment issues. She can be reached at [email protected].
