^GreenScapes


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What is GreenScapes?
       oads and highways, golf courses
       and ski resorts, commercial
  L    K buildings and industrial sites—the
widespread use of economically and
environmentally costly landscaping is
everywhere. By simply changing these
landscapes to "GreenScapes," you can
save money and prevent pollution.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) GreenScapes program
provides cost-efficient and environmen-
tally friendly solutions for large-scale
landscaping. Designed to help preserve
natural resources and prevent waste and
pollution, GreenScapes encourages
companies, government agencies, and
other entities to make more holistic deci-
sions regarding waste generation and
disposal and the associated impacts on
land, water, air, and energy use.  By
focusing on the "4 Rs"—reduce, reuse,
recycle, and rebuy—you can help
improve both your bottom line and the
environment.

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Why Is GreenScaping
Important?
Think about some of the large-scale land uses
in the United States—shopping and retail cen-
ters; recreational facilities such as golf courses,
ski resorts, amusement parks, public gardens;
roads and highways; abandoned industrial
sites such as brownfields; college and universi-
ty campuses; and military installations. Think
about the millions of tons of waste materials
that are hauled away, buried, or burned each
day from landscaping and groundskeeping
operations—trees, shrubs, brush, lumber,
asphalt, and concrete, just to name a few.
Also, consider the millions of gallons of water,
pesticides, fuels, and oils used each and every
day in landscaping. The costs of these materi-
als—both economic and environmental—can
be easily reduced or eliminated with updated
landscaping methods.

What Can You Do?
Understanding the economic and environmen-
tal benefits of saving resources and preventing
waste and pollution is key to bringing positive
changes to your operations and surroundings.
These changes can be made gradually. Set a
combination of short- and long-term goals-
activities that can be performed in  a few
weeks paired with actions that can be imple-
mented later for future gains. Even small
improvements can create a huge ripple-effect
not only on your site, but throughout your
industry and the environment. Focus on the
4Rs:

   • Reduce

   • Reuse

   • Recycle

   • Rebuy

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Xxedi
     luce
Reducing the production of waste is the first
and most important step towards efficient
materials use. When planning a new landscape
design or updating a current one, avoid  prod-
ucts that require frequent replacement or regu-
lar maintenance to reduce future waste.
Durable products will long outlast those  of
lesser quality, reducing future waste generation
and the need to purchase new or replacement
products. Try some of the following  waste
reduction suggestions:
   • Reduce or eliminate plastic silt fencing and
    substitute with blankets, berms, and filter-
    socks made of compost, for erosion con-
    trol and reduction of non-point source pol-
    lution. Compost provides superior filtration
    and erosion prevention/control,  is more
    easily installed and  maintained,  and does
    not require energy-intensive removal or
    disposal from the site once the  job is
    completed.
   • Reduce nonpermeable hardscape wherev-
    er possible to minimize rainwater runoff
    and erosion. Consider parking areas or
    paths made from mulch or gravel. Where
    hard surfaces are necessary, use asphalt
  This filter berm made from compost demon-
  strates how well the organic  material  helps
  retain runoff in comparison to a typical silt
  fence in  the lower portion of the  photo.

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  containing recycled tires—the surface will
  last longer and require less maintenance.
 • Switch from benches, signs,  and trail
  markers made from wood to long-lived
  plastic lumber. Equipment made from this
  recovered plastic material does not require
  routine upkeep—saving paint, solvent, and
  labor costs. Plastic lumber also lasts many
  years  longer than wood—greatly reducing
  maintenance and replacement costs.
 • Conserve water through "Xeriscaping."
  Plant vegetation that is not only drought-
  resistant, but indigenous to a region's soil
  and climate conditions.  Once established,
  these  native plants can  survive with little
  care or water. Add compost to the soil to
  help improve water absorption and reten-
  tion and further reduce water require-
  ments. Native plants are also more pest-
  resistant and healthier, thus requiring less
Compost - An On-Par Alternative

The soil on the North Shore Country Club
(Glenview, Illinios) golf course had elevat-
ed sodium levels—too high to maintain
quality turf. Standard procedure called
for the installation of a wellto solve this
problem, but that solution came with a
quarter million dollar price tag.  With a
little research,  North Shore found  compost
to be the economical alternative to
enhance the quality  of its soil.

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 fertilizers and pesticides. Long-lived,
 hardier vegetation can save money by
 lowering labor costs and money spent on
 maintenance supplies.
•Produce less green waste by limiting fertil-
 izer and water use—this will save you
 money and maintenance time due to
 slower plant growth. Less landscape
 maintenance translates to fewer hours of
 equipment operations, saving fuel, mainte-
 nance, labor, and emissions and increas-
 ing equipment longevity.
• All pesticides are toxic to some degree-
 spot treat whenever possible. In most
 cases, treating an entire region with pesti-
 cides isn't necessary if the problem is
 confined to specific areas. Treating more
 than necessary is wasteful and can be
 environmentally damaging. For similar rea-
 sons, consider using organic fertilizers
 instead of chemical ones.
•Start or increase onsite composting of
 your green wastes and food scraps.
 Compost contributes vital nutrients and
 disease-suppressing properties to the soil,
 reducing the need for chemical fertilizers
 or pesticides. Compost is also an excel-
 lent material for seeding grass and young
 plants, reclaiming nutrient-poor soil, and
 preventing erosion. Compost can be
 made cheaply and easily on site. In
 addition, diverting organic material to a
 compost pile can prevent the production
 of the greenhouse gas methane that
 normally occurs when this waste is buried
 in landfills.
• Top-dress your turf with compost—this
 can decrease fertilizer use by up to 50
 percent and decrease irrigation needs by
 increasing water absorption and  retention.
• Place mulch over a plant's root zone to
 reduce moisture evaporation and conserve
 water. Mulch also inhibits weed growth.
 Save money and make your own mulch

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 by chipping wood wastes generated from
 your site.
• Set mower blades higher. Longer top
 growth means deeper roots, making the
 grass more durable in drought conditions
 and better able to fight weeds and dis-
 eases without pesticides.
• Grasscycle—leave grass clippings in place
 (don't bag)  when mowing. The clippings
 quickly decompose and  release valuable
 nutrients into the soil, reducing the need
 for fertilizers by 15 to 25 percent. This
 activity also reduces water use, grass dis-
 posal, and maintenance  costs. Grass trim-
 mings do not cause thatch.
• Use vegetation outside to reduce indoor
 heating and cooling  needs.  Deciduous
 trees planted appropriately along the
 south sides of buildings can reduce air
 conditioning costs by up to 20 percent; in
 winter they allow the sun's rays to warm
 buildings. Coniferous trees planted to
 block prevailing northwest winter winds
 can reduce heating costs. Trees planted to
 shade paved areas reduce the summer
 "heat-island" effect that makes parking
 lots so inhospitable.

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IVeuse
Reuse serves as another key component to
environmentally beneficial landscaping. Many
items can be reused effectively without adding
much time or energy. Try some of the following
reuse tips:
   •Chip woody shrubs and tree clippings into
    mulch that can be applied to the land-
    scape. This activity saves money on dis-
    posal costs and commercial soil amend-
    ments, while adding the benefits of mulch,
    such as moisture retention and weed
    prevention.
   • Return wooden pallets to your supplier
    whenever possible. Nonreturnable pallets
    can be taken apart and the wood can be
    reused for compost bins,  for example, or
    chipped  and  used on site for mulch.
   • Donate healthy plants to community gar-
    dens, schools,  churches,  or other local
    nonprofit  organizations when reconfiguring
    or removing trees and shrubs from your
    landscape.
   •Use alternative sources of irrigation water
    such as gray water, reclaimed water,
    and collected rain water. These options
    save water and money while helping to
    reduce runoff, erosion, and  nonpoint
    source pollution.

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  A "Growing" Plastics Recycling Business

  Agri-Plas, Inc., an agricultural plastic
  recycler in Oregon,  processes tons of dis-
  carded plastics from the agricultural and
  nursery industries each  year. The company
  collects trays, pots, and greenhouse  films
  from about TOO nearby nurseries and
  picks up  baling  twine and plastic agricul-
  tural chemical containers from  local  farm-
  ers  and growers. Agri-Plas provides the
  recovered plastic to end users that make
  new products for the nursery and automo-
  tive industries.
rCecycle
Creating products from recycled materials
saves energy and resources, and can often
generate revenue. Try some of the following
recycling suggestions:
   • Send clippings and trimmings that cannot
    be composted on site to a local compost-
    ing facility in exchange for the finished
    compost at a discounted price or fee.
   • Save  bedding trays and plant containers
    from annuals and other greenery and send
    them  to a recycler for processing.
   • Rinse out and recycle plastic bottles and
    jugs from commercial chemicals.
   • Collect and recycle the used oil and tires
    from your vehicles  and equipment.

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R<
   Lebuy
Rebuying means re-thinking your purchasing
habits. Look for products that meet your
needs but have a better environmental profile
than your current product purchases.  Consider
biobased,  recycled content, and other environ-
mentally preferable aspects in your purchasing
decisions.  Recycled products, for example, are
often more durable than those made with vir-
gin materials, saving money and raw materials
over time.  Rebuying is key to sustaining  recy-
cling markets, and  it aids in the development
of technology that conserves resources and
prevents waste. You can work with your man-
agers, clients, suppliers, and vendors  to identi-
fy and establish specifications to purchase var-
ious recycled-content products. Biobased
products—products other than food or feed
that utilize biological products or renewable
domestic agricultural (e.g.,  plant, animal, and
marine) or forestry materials—should also be
given preference1. Try these rebuy tips:
   •Use blankets and berms made  of com-
    post to minimize or eliminate soil erosion,
    runoff, and nonpoint source pollution.
    Compost is both a biobased product and
    a recycled product because it is made
    from recycled organic waste materials.
    Compost also  makes an excellent air filter
    media for volatile organic  compounds
    (VOCs).
1. As defined under Executive Order 13101 and
Executive Order 13134.

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  • Select plastic lumber made from recycled
    bottles and bags for benches and other
    outdoor structures. Plastic lumber is an
    extremely durable material that lasts
    longer and requires less maintenance than
    traditional wood, realizing  significant cost
    savings for you over the life of the materi-
    al. The National Park Service currently has
    more than a dozen projects planned with
    plastic lumber.
  • Incorporate rubberized asphalt (made from
    recycled tires) for walking, running, bike,
    or cart paths—it extends the life of trails
    and reduces the frequency of repairs.
  • Buy hoses, tubing, trickle  irrigation sys-
    tems, and lawn edging made from recov-
    ered plastic and old tires.
  • Purchase biodiesel and biobased lubri-
    cants for your equipment. Besides being
    better for the environment, keeping  less
    hazardous materials on your site reduces
    management costs and possibly insur-
    ance costs.
  This walking path at the Earvin "Magic"
  Johnson Recreation Area in  Los Angeles
  County is made from rubberized asphalt,
  which is more resilient than  traditional
  asphalt.
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   •Purchase patio blocks containing recovered
    plastic or postconsumer rubber (some
    contain 90 to 100 percent recycled content)
    to create decorative garden walkways
    and trails.
   • Rethink your pesticide use through
    Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM
    reduces the risk from pesticides, and in
    some cases, reduces the amount of pesti-
    cides needed. IPM is based  on a combina-
    tion of techniques such as biological con-
    trol, habitat manipulation, and modification
    of cultural practices, often including steps
    you can take before you ever encounter a
    pest problem.  If pesticides become neces-
    sary, they are selected and applied in ways
    that minimize risks to human health and the
    environment and remove only the target
    organism.

Additional Benefits of
GreenScaping:
   • Reduced exposure of your customers,
    employees, and yourself to potentially
    harmful chemicals, solvents,  fuels, and
    pesticides.
   • Improved competitive edge with reduced
    costs and improved materials efficiency.
   •Increased beauty—a natural  environment
    is aesthetically pleasing.
   • Improved public perception of your
    business.
   • Knowledge that you are making a difference
    by helping prevent pollution,  curb climate
    change, and reduce your "environmental
    footprint" on the Earth.
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ACt  NOW! Here is a short list of activities
you can do to get started. Visit our Web page for
additional ideas and information.
Q  Use compost blankets, berms, and filter
   socks for improved erosion control.
Q  Use compost for turf establishment and main-
   tenance to accelerate turf growth and
   enhance its health.
Q  Xeriscape—plant native, drought-resistant
   vegetation to reduce water use.
Q  Use durable, long-lived products such as
   plastic lumber and rubberized asphalt.
Q  Compost landscape clippings and use as a
   soil amendment.
Q  Grind or chip wood waste for use as mulch to
   conserve water and prevent weed growth.
Q  Grasscycle—leave grass clippings on the turf
   as a natural fertilizer.
Q  Capture and use rain water for irrigation
   needs.
Q  Donate unwanted plants to local
   organizations.
Q  Recycle plastics, tires, and used oil from your
   operations and equipment.
Q  Buy environmentally preferable products such
   as biobased nontoxic cleaners and solvents
   for your equipment and facilities maintenance.
Q  Start an IPM program.
Q  Check with your insurance company for
   possible discounts for reduced environmental
   risks and increased safety.
Q  Tell us about your successes.
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For More Information
Many public agencies and commercial landscap-
ers across the country successfully use environ-
mentally beneficial landscaping techniques. Visit
the GreenScapes Web site to learn more about
these innovative landscaping techniques and read
their success stories. Or let us know what terrific
things you're doing so we can recognize your
accomplishments and add you to the growing list
of success stories!
 www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green
   Reference to any specific commercia
   products, processes, companies, or
   services  by trade name, trademark,
   manufacturer or otherwise, does not
   constitute or imply endorsement or
   recommendation by the U.S.
   Environmental Protection Agency.
 U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency
 Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
 77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
 Chicago, IL  60604-3590

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 vvEPA
     United States Environmental Protection Agency
     Office of Solid Waste and
     Emergency Response (5306W)
     EPA530-K-03-003
     July 2003
Printed on paper that contains at least 50 percent postconsumer fiber.   |

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