Because the company pays only scrap metal prices for used cars, almost none of the cars sold to the company still run. Only 1 percent of the automobiles driven in the local area predate 1980. Since the company launched its car-buying campaign, the number of citizen groups filing complaints about pollution from the company's plants has decreased. It would cost the company over $3 million to reduce its plants' toxic emissions, while its car-buying campaign will save the company money by providing it with reusable scrap metal.
Company spokesperson: In lieu of redesigning our plants, our company recently launched an environmental protection campaign to buy and dispose of old cars, which are generally highly pollutive. Our plants account for just 4 percent of the local air pollution, while automobiles that predate 1980 account for 30 percent. Clearly, we will reduce air pollution more by buying old cars than we would by redesigning our plants.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the company spokesperson's argument?