Managing Landscape Waste
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Ever since the State
of Illinois banned the disposal of landscape waste in landfills in 1990,
residents and local governments have been challenged with what to do
with the leaves, grass clippings, tree limbs, brush and other materials
accumulated during the care of lawns and gardens. Recycling landscape
waste can save landfill space and can also protect the environment and
make wiser use of these natural materials.
You can save
yourself a lot of time ant trouble when mowing if you let the grass
clippings lie on the lawn. You may have heard a few myths about this
practice:
It increases
thatch- Not
true. According to the University of Illinois, thatch is
actually dead roots; grass blades decompose more quickly and actually
add nutrients and improve the soil.
Leaving clippings
hurts the lawn-
Not true. In fact, one bag of clippings equals almost a
quarter pound of organic nitrogen, something a healthy lawn needs.
To do the best
job of cutting grass, mow when it is dry and don't cut more than one
third of the grass blades at any one mowing. Keep your mower blade
sharp. You can use a mulching lawn mower or purchase a mulching blade
for your existing mower, but it's not necessary if you follow these
tips.
If you are a gardener, you may want to collect some of the grass
clippings to use as mulch around plants. The mulch keeps the weeds down,
retains moisture and keeps the soil cooler, which is important in hot
weather.
LEAVES
The easiest way to
handle leaves is to mow them into small pieces and let them lie on the
lawn. This works best with smaller leaves of course, and if you do not
have too many. If you still want the satisfying chore of raking leaves
into piles, use them as mulch around your shrubbery or spade them into
your garden.
Burning of leaves is not recommended. It is restricted in some
municipalities in Ogle County, and it can be a safety hazard and health
irritant. If you feel you must burn leaves or other landscape waste,
please follow these guidelines:
*
Follow local regulations.
Ogle County Code requires a minimum of fifty feet from the
materials being burned and the nearest residence. The burning of
landscape waste is allowed only on the premises on which the waste
is generated, when weather conditions will readily dissipate the
smoke, and if it does not create a visibility hazard.
* Never leave the burn-pile unattended.
* Keep it small and have a garden hose within reach.
* Do not burn at night or in high winds.
* Do not burn wet leaves, trash or paper with your leaves.
* Do not burn on asphalt or concrete.
* Be considerate of those around you! Elderly people and people with
health conditions can be threatened or made to feel miserable when
you burn leaves. Don’t burn landscape waste if your neighbors are
having a picnic or hanging laundry out to dry!
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COMPOSTING |
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The best way to
manage much of the landscape waste is by composting it. It uses less
energy, causes less pollution, and doesn't require a lot of work.
Compost is organic matter that is naturally broken down by bacteria,
fungi, microorganisms, and insects into a dark brown, crumbly material
(humus) resembling rich topsoil. Compost adds essential nutrients to
soil, loosens heavy clay soils and helps retain soil moisture.
Compost is produced when yard waste is piled in a heap or in bins
constructed of wood, fencing, or concrete blocks. Garden supply stores,
mail order catalogs or internet merchants offer a variety of specially
designed compost bins. Instructions on how to build a compost bin are
available at the Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department, or other
related resources are available at
Books about Composting.
Proper composting requires adequate water and air which can be achieved
by turning the pile regularly. It can take anywhere from six weeks to a
year to make compost from yard waste. The process can be speeded up by
frequent turning, maintaining a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio, and
shredding leaves and garden waste into smaller pieces.
The following links offer excellent information and instructions on
composting:
University of
Illinois
Envirocare of America
Composting Guide
Compost
Notes
Composting Council of Canada - A
composting information resource
Composting
Glossary
Cornell Composting
Earthworms
Master Composter
Recycling kitchen waste
using a home worm bin
Rodale Institute (Soil and related
topics)
Soil Health Menu
The Compost Resource Page
Urban Agriculture Notes:
Information on home composting
Worm & Compost Bins
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