GREENSCAPI
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American homeowners spend hundreds of hours a year
mowing, clipping, raking, and landscaping to keep our
yards healthy and our property attractive. Our landscaping
practices produce huge amounts of waste. So much in fact, that
yard waste is second only to paper in the municipal solid waste
stream. By following a few simple waste reduction practices,
you can not only improve your lawn and garden, but also
the environment.
To save space in landfills, prevent waste, and reduce gases
associated with climate change, many local governments have
banned yard waste from their waste disposal programs. Yard
waste also is a major expense for municipal waste programs,
and one for which we individually pay. In addition, most
waste-even organic waste-can take years to decompose in a
landfill. In fact, researchers have unearthed whole vegetables
and readable newspapers that have been buried in landfills
for decades. Landfills can produce methane gas, which is a
major contributor to climate change, and incinerated yard
waste produces carbon dioxide, another gas associated with
climate change.
You can reduce the environmental
impacts of landscaping your lawn
and property by grasscycling,
mulching, and composting.
Properly managing your yard waste
not only enhances your environ-
ment and but also saves you money.
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Give an Inch, Save a Yard
Grasscycling is a simple method for recycling your yard waste. If you
mow your lawn so that grass is never more than 2 to 3 inches tall, leave
the grass clippings where they fall and allow them to decompose. To
foster healthy grass, do not cut more than one-third of the blade, and
no more than one-inch total. The clippings return nutrients to your
yard, and you do not have to spend time and money bagging or haul-
ing them away. One study showed that, by not bagging clippings,
mowing took about 38 percent less time.
Contrary to popular belief, grass clippings do not cause thatch. Thatch
is actually a layer of organic material made up of grass roots, not mown
grass blades. Grass roots contain lignin, a substance that decomposes
very slowly and causes thatch. Grass clippings are about 90 percent
water, so they decompose very quickly.
Mulching is another way to reuse so-called yard waste. Make mulch
from chipped or shredded wood waste or dried leaves. Mulching
involves spreading thin layers of
dry organic waste around the
base of plants to prevent weed
growth, retain water, regulate
soil temperature, and add
nutrients back to the soil. Grass
clippings also make excellent
mulch. If you have healthy
plants that you merely want
Take Your Cue from
Mother Nature
Many people are now practic-
ing xeriscaping, a technique
that involves designing lawns
and gardens to consider the
natural landscape of a region.
Using native plants and land-
scape designs that optimize
local conditions can reduce
water use and soil erosion,
lower maintenance costs, and
preserve natural resources.
to replace, donate them to
community gardens, schools,
or others for their lawn and
garden use.
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Create Some Space and Compost Your Waste
Many lawn and landscaping products can be reused or recycled to pre-
vent waste. Composting is one recycling method that turns organic
yard waste into a natural soil additive rich in nutrients. Finished com-
post can improve soil texture, increase the soil's ability to absorb air and
water, suppress weed growth, and decrease erosion. In addition, making
and using your own compost can save you money and reduce pollution
by reducing the need for you to buy and use commercial soil additives.
You can create a compost pile in your backyard or indoors, depending
on your available space. To compost in your backyard, choose a level,
Seasonal Composting
Certain seasonal activities such
as holidays and parties create
more or unusual types of organic
waste. In most cases, this waste
can also be composted or other-
wise recycled.
Many food scraps from parties or
holiday gatherings can be com-
posted, as can carved pumpkins
left over from Halloween. In addi-
tion, many communities collect
pine trees and garlands used for
holiday decoration and recycle
them. Chips from recycled trees
can be composted or used for
coastal erosion prevention, creat-
ing fish habitats, and landscaping.
What Can You Compost?
No national regulations exist that define
what you can and can't compost, but some
local governments have certain health-relat-
ed restrictions, such as prohibiting open
piles containing food waste or completely
banning food waste known to attract pests
and disease-related organisms. Because you
need the right mix of "ingredients" to
encourage decomposition, you will achieve
the healthiest compost if you follow these
guidelines:
Throw in
• Grass clippings and leaves
• Straw/hay
• Manure
• Wood chips and sawdust
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3-by-5-foot square spot in an area of your yard near a water source, but
away from direct sunlight and child play areas. Clear the spot of sod
and grass and set up a compost bin. You can buy a bin from a commer-
cial retailer or build your own out of wood scraps, chicken wire, or
concrete blocks. Remember to leave enough space in your bin for air to
circulate, and make sure one side is removable for easy tending.
You will need to turn your compost pile every few weeks with a pitch-
fork to distribute air and moisture. Make sure you also sprinkle water
on your pile in dry weather. In most climates, you will have finished
compost in 3 to 6 months, when the waste becomes a dark, crumbly
material that is uniform in texture. You can then spread your compost
in garden beds, under shrubs, or use it as potting soil.
If you do not have space for an outdoor
compost pile, you can compost materi-
als indoors using a special type of bin,
which you can buy or make yourself. To
make your own indoor bin, drill 1/2-
inch diameter holes in the bottom and
sides of a plastic garbage can. Place a
brick in the bottom of a larger garbage
can, surround the brick with a layer of
wood chips or soil, and place the smaller
can inside on top of the brick. Wrap
insulation around the outer can to keep
the compost warm and cover the cans
with a lid. Your compost should be
ready in 2 to 5 weeks. Remember to
tend your pile and keep track of what
you throw in. A properly managed com-
post bin will not attract pests or rodents
and will not smell bad.
Other Ideas
If you can't compost, grasscycle, or
mulch at home, you can still collect yard
waste and donate it to a community
composting program or other local busi-
ness. Farmers often buy compost to
enhance crops; landscapers buy it to
improve soil conditions and for decora-
tive purposes; nurseries buy it as potting
soil; and public agencies buy it to
landscape public property such as
highway medians and parks. Contact
your local solid waste authority to find
out who collects compostable materials
in your area. Some communities even
have curbside collection —if yours
doesn't, maybe you can help get a
program started.
Fruit and vegetable scraps
Tea bags
- Coffee grounds and filters
• Eggshells
• Vacuum cleaner lint
• Hair clippings
~ Shredded newspaper
Fireplace ashes
Wool and cotton rags
Keep out
Diseased plants
Pernicious weeds
• Human and pet waste
Chemically treated wood products
Barbeque grill ash
- Meat and fish scraps and bones
~ Oils and other fatty food products
Milk products
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Change Landscaping to "Greenscaping,"
Practice the 4-Rs
By reducing, reusing, recycling, and rebuying when you landscape, you
can save money and reduce waste.
Reducing: Using manual garden tools instead of gas- or electric-pow-
ered ones can reduce fuel waste and protect air quality. Push mowers
and mulchers, rakes, hoes, and shovels might require more work, but
their use prevents waste, reduces air and noise pollution, and helps you
get exercise and active time outdoors. When you do use large lawn and
garden equipment such as driving mowers or chainsaws, you can reduce
waste (and save money) by borrowing or renting this equipment.
Organize a neighborhood equipment sharing plan, or rent these items
from a local hardware store or landscaping company.
Reduce the amount of harmful pesticides you use—all pesticides are
toxic to some degree. Spot treat areas whenever possible. In most cases,
treating your entire yard is not necessary, especially when a problem is
confined to specific areas. Treating more than necessary is wasteful and
can be environmentally damaging. When using commercial chemical
treatments, make sure to use them safely, and to read and follow the
manufacturer's label instructions for use and disposal.
Reusing: Use rain barrels to collect rain water from your roof. Water
your plants and garden with it and reduce your water bill, too. Such
simple changes create huge ripples effect that improve and safeguard
our environment.
Recycling: Be sure to recycle as many products as you can. Especially
remember to recycle the used oil and tires from
your landscaping vehicles and equipment.
Rebuying: Rebuying means rethinking your
purchasing habits. Look for products that still
meet your needs, but are better for the environ-
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ment. Many gardening products and tools are now made from recycled
materials. Buying recycled-content products means manufacturers have
to extract and transport fewer virgin materials and expend less energy
during production. Buying recycled items also boosts the market for
these products, encouraging more communities to recycle and more
companies to sell recycled-content items.
Some lawn and garden products made with recycled materials include
garden and soaker hoses made from recycled tires, garden edging made
from recycled rubber, paths and play areas lined with wood chips, and
stepping stones made from recycled glass. If you are building a new
deck, bird house, flower bed, play equipment, or some other landscap-
ing project, consider using plastic lumber made from recycled products
such as milk jugs and plastic bags, or from
recycled plastics mixed with sawdust, fiber-
glass, or resins. Plastic lumber is very
durable and low-maintenance, is water- and
insect-resistant, will not splinter, and will
not absorb bacteria. You can also buy prod-
ucts such as planting pots and watering
cans already made from recycled plastic.
Use alternative products
and practices
Fertilizers made from organic materials such
as plant extracts and worm castings are
available at many garden stores. You can
also use several types of plants and
beneficial insects that act as natural deter-
rents to common garden pests. Planting
marigolds alongside other plants protects
your garden bed from many types of
beetles, for example, and ladybugs will eat
plant-munching aphids.
Ban Backyard Burning
In many areas of the country,
people burn their yard waste as a
way of disposing of it. Burning
yard waste is both a safety and a
health hazard. Burning yard waste
is not only a fire hazard, but it
also can create toxic fumes and
potentially toxic ash. The air pollu-
tion it causes can aggravate respi-
ratory conditions, such as asthma.
No national regulations prohibit
burning your yard waste, but it is
not a recommended disposal
method. Compost your yard waste
instead. If composting is not an
option, dispose of your yard waste
according to your local laws and
regulations.
Web Resources
Greenscaping
U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/index.htm
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/compost/index.htm
Composting
Cornell Composting, the Cornell Waste Management Institute
www.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/Composti ng_Homepage.html
Xeriscaping
Green Landscaping, U.S. EPA
www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres
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