Bay Area residents who own a vehicle built before 1998 can now receive up to $1,200 as part of an old-vehicle buyback program to improve local air quality, the Federal District announced Monday. Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
The buyback program will pay owners of older, highly polluting cars and small trucks to voluntarily retire their vehicles. Older vehicles lack modern emission control technology and pollute at a higher rate than newer models.
To qualify for the vehicle buyback program, vehicles must be 1998 or earlier model year, must be currently registered as operable and drivable, and must have been registered in the Bay Area for the last 24 months
Vehicles within 60 days of a required smog check must take and pass the check.
"Transportation remains the largest source of air pollution in the Bay Area, and scrapping old vehicles helps limit harmful tailpipe emissions into the air we breathe," said Sharon Landers, the district's interim executive director. of air.
The program reduces air pollutants from vehicle exhaust, including fine particles and ozone precursors, the main ingredients of smog. These pollutants contribute to respiratory diseases and increased death rates. Retiring older vehicles also reduces carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Since 1996, the Air District's Vehicle Buyback program has recalled more than 90,000 cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. For every pre-1998 vehicle removed from Bay Area roadways, approximately 75 pounds of air pollution is prevented from being released into the air annually.
In 2021, 3,000 vehicles were withdrawn, which represents the elimination of 91 tons of air pollution.
You may be interested in: Bay Area air monitoring authorities anticipate violations against Martinez refinery
