What Is The Environmental Impact?

• Operating a gas mower for just an hour produces as much air pollution as driving a car for 93 miles, according to Mother Earth News. If you're mowing a half acre or more once a week, you're adding a lot of emissions into your neighborhood's air. However, there are other environmental impacts that a cordless electric lawn mower creates. The cases of most cordless electric mowers are plastic to keep the weight lighter and put less strain on the engine. The production of these plastics often creates toxic waste.
  
  

How Long Does It Run?

• Doing away with a cumbersome extension cord requires the cordless electric lawnmower to rely on a battery. Before purchasing your new mower, check the battery life and how long it takes to fully charge. Most modern cordless mowers can handle 1/8th of an acre on one charge, but some lithium battery-powered models claim they can cut 1/4 of an acre. Run time estimates vary greatly based on the lawn itself due to weeds, moisture levels and other factors. Batteries tend to take from 12 to 24 hours to charge. You may need to split large lawn cutting jobs into two or three days.
  
  

Will It Cut?

• Cordless electric mowers don't offer the same cutting power as a corded or gasoline powered model. The blades on these models often get bogged down in thick or tough grass, according to American Lawns. Fine grass like Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass or fescue varieties are easier for a cordless mower than grass types like St. Augustine. Woody stemmed weeds also cause trouble. If your lawn has a lot of moisture or you get rain on a daily basis, a cordless mower might not work either due to their propensity for clogging with wet grass clippings.
  
  

Where Do I Recycle the Battery?

• Cordless electric mowers may not create air pollution, but the chemicals contained in their rechargeable batteries can cause even worse effects on the environment. These chemicals leak out and contaminate the ground water or soil of an area when the used batteries are disposed of in landfills, according to the University of Florida. Before purchasing a new mower, investigate local recycling centers and determine their ability to accept the type of battery it would use. Some manufacturers also let you ship the battery back for recycling once it is used up.