Yard “Waste”

According to a 2018 EPA report, about 7% of U.S. landfill is yard waste. “Waste” is an interesting word for such a valuable resource.

Leaves and other debris provide habitats for over-wintering animals, insects, bacteria and mycelium vital to our eco-system. Seed heads standing high above the frozen ground preserve food for birds during the cold months. The stalks provide winter beauty as sculptural structures that stand up and play with the low sun’s shadows and snow.

As the weather begins to warm and seeds germinate, the material, hopefully compacted by the snow, can prevent “weeds” from taking hold. Raking and leaf blowing disturbs the layer and top-soil, creating ideal conditions for these germinating pioneer plants.

During summer this layer protects the soil from the baking sun and helps trap precious moisture. Over time it breaks down and creates a home for healthy soil that is full of life.

As much as I like to get paid twice for removing “waste” and replacing it with “mulch”, it is not a sustainable practice for the future. One of the best things we can do for our environment is contemplate what we see as waste and what we see as beauty.

If letting the leaves, cuttings, and twigs to compost in place is not your cup of tea, we offer a variety of services to deal with biomass produced by plants.

• Building an on site compost pile- usually built with pallets, we create a designated space for taking leaves, grass, and other clippings. With added water and worms, the pile can composted and ready to add back into the soil the following year. This can help close the loop and prevent the costly price of delivering mulch.
• On-site hand mulching- great for small amounts of thin branches, we can break down into smaller, even pieces with our hands, loppers, and clippers then added back into the planters or desired areas.
• Take away mulching- We take away the waste for our compost/mulch pile and bring back a finished mulch (if desired). *our current pile wont be ready until 2026, so return service not available until then.

https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/yard-trimmings-material-specific-data#:~:text=The%20total%20amount%20of%20yard,percent%20of%20all%20MSW%20landfilled.

From December 30, 2023