Landscape Equipment Trade-In Event a Success
October 08, 2025
The Landscape Equipment Exchange event, sponsored by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, collected nearly 200 gas-powered tools for recycling and issued nearly $40,000 in vouchers. Vouchers are still available!
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Ventura County residents took climate action into their own hands by participating in the Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange program. The event allowed residents to trade in gas-powered landscape equipment for vouchers toward cleaner, quieter electric models.
Originally launched by the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) in October 2024, the program received enthusiastic feedback from the community at the Rotary Street Fair and Arbor Earth Day events in 2024 and 2025. With funds still available, the City of Thousand Oaks partnered with VCAPCD to host a dedicated trade-in event at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility on Conejo Center Drive in Newbury Park. Participants either completed an application on-site before turning in their gas-powered equipment or, if they had pre-applied, simply dropped off their equipment to receive a voucher.
Nearly 200 pieces of gas-powered equipment were surrendered, dismantled, and recycled, including mowers, leaf blowers, and handheld tools such as chainsaws, trimmers, and edgers. This effort is expected to reduce gasoline use among Ventura County residents by approximately 893 gallons per year, resulting in estimated annual emissions reductions of 7.15 pounds of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), 312 pounds of Reactive Organic Compounds (ROC/VOC), and 17,491 pounds of CO₂. In simpler terms, the emissions savings are equivalent to taking two cars off the road. Seventy-four of the 98 vouchers issued at the event went to Thousand Oaks residents, and the combined value of the vouchers was $39,012.98.
If you missed the event, but are ready to replace your operable gas-powered equipment, you can still take advantage of the voucher offered by VCAPCD. Ventura County residents, commercial landscaping businesses, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, public schools, and school districts are eligible to apply for a voucher toward the purchase of new electric lawn and garden equipment in exchange for surrendering their old, gas-powered models. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, interested participants are encouraged to apply promptly.
Maximum voucher amounts are included in the table below.
Equipment Type | Residential Amount | Commercial Amount |
Handheld equipment | $300 | $700 |
Leaf blowers/Vacuums | $200 | $1,400 |
Walk Behind Lawn Mowers | $330 | $1,500 |
Stand/Sit Mowers | $2,000 | $15,000 |
A few key things to remember:
- Equipment surrendered must be in working condition.
- Equipment purchased before the voucher issuance is not eligible for reimbursement.
- Equipment must be purchased through a participating retailer.
Participating Retailers:
Mac’s Lawnmowers
2697 Lavery Court #11
Newbury Park, CA 91320
(805) 449-2900
Pacific Equipment
3897 N. Southbank Rd.
Oxnard, CA 93036
(805) 983-4000
Ace Hardware – Thousand Oaks
1934 E Avenida de Los Arboles
Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
(805) 267-1785
Ace Hardware – Simi Valley
2910 Tapo Canyon Rd.
Simi Valley, CA 93063
(805) 206-3023
Cal-Coast Machinery (ride-on residential mower only)
2450 Eastman Ave.
Oxnard, CA 93030
(805) 981-2866
Download and complete the application below:
For additional information or questions, please view the VCAPCD website here.