What do you do with your yard waste? Have you ever considered where it ends up? The average person creates 216 lb of yard waste per year. Approximately 10% of the yard waste ends up in landfills, where it takes much longer to decompose than it should because of the lack of oxygen necessary for the decomposition process. So, what can you do about this?
First, let's discuss what yard waste is comprised of. Yard waste is grass, twigs, and leaves. Consider what you do with the yard waste you produce. Many lawn mowers are capable of mulching, which means that they break the grass, twigs, and leaves they run over into small enough pieces so that they may be composted quickly and they do not leave your yard looking messy. This makes the decomposition process much faster, and the waste remains on your yard, which acts as a fertilizer for the living grass and keeps your yard healthy.
Another option is to compost your yard waste in an actual composting pile. If you decide to go this route, it is important to make sure the compost pile is balanced (enough carbon and nitrogen producing agents) and the yard waste is broken up into smaller pieces. For any compostable item, the smaller it is broken up, the faster it will break down.
Commercial yard waste composting accounts for 25% of the recycling which takes place in the United States. This process occurs when your local government or township require yard waste to be disposed of in special containers. In many states it is illegal to dispose of yard waste in the trash. However, composting or mulching your own yard waste is a more environmentally friendly option because it reduces the pollution created from transporting the yard waste from your home to a composting facility. You also will not reap your own benefits from the compost, such as a healthier yard or compost which can be used for your own plants or garden.
So, you do have options. These options may seem similar, but the ability to benefit from them makes the option of composting or mulching your own yard waste a better option which also reduces your carbon footprint.
https://www.waste360.com/research-and-statistics/profiles-garbage-yard-waste
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