First, you’ll have to change your perspective on what you’ve previously called “yard waste.” Leaves, grass clippings and other trimmings can be reused in various ways.
Burning your yard waste causes air pollution, but you also don’t want to put it in the regular trash to sit in a landfill. The best way to dispose of yard waste is to either reuse it, or recycle it.
Some companies that already pick up your garbage and recycling may offer yard waste pick up. You may also live near a collection site that will take your clippings and trimmings. However, your yard may thank you more if you choose to reuse these items.
Instead of bagging your grass when mowing it, let the clippings (at least one inch long) remain on the grass. Leaving them on the lawn will allow them to return nutrients back to the soil, improving the health of your lawn.
Use dried leaves or shredded wood waste as mulch when you plant flowers next spring. Like mulch, this will help prevent weeds, retain more water and provide the soil with nutrients.
At Thermostat Recycling Corporation, we are always trying to find new ways to leave a smaller carbon footprint that is achievable through reducing, reusing and recycling what we can, when we can. You don’t have to throw away everything—most of the time, you can find new ways to reuse what you may otherwise toss. Your grass clippings aren’t trash; they become a treasure to the rest of your lawn and garden.
