2

Mulching is another way to reuse so-called yard waste. Make mulchfrom chipped or shredded wood waste or dried leaves. Mulching

involves spreading thin layers ofdry organic waste around the

base of plants to prevent weedgrowth, retain water, regulate

soil temperature, and addnutrients back to the soil. Grassclippings also make excellentmulch. If you have healthyplants that you merely want 

to replace, donate them tocommunity gardens, schools, or others for their lawn andgarden use.

Take Your Cue fromMother NatureMany people are now practicing xeriscaping, a techniquethat involves designing lawnsand gardens to consider thenatural landscape of a region.Using native plants and landscape designs that optimizelocal conditions can reducewater use and soil erosion,lower maintenance costs, andpreserve natural resources. 
Mulching is another way to reuse so-called yard waste. Make mulch from chipped or shredded wood waste or dried leaves. Mulching 

2 

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 

to replace, donate them to community gardens, schools, or others for their lawn and garden use. 

Take Your Cue from 

Mother Nature 

Many people are now practicing xeriscaping, a technique that involves designing lawns and gardens to consider the natural landscape of a region. Using native plants and landscape designs that optimize local conditions can reduce water use and soil erosion, lower maintenance costs, and preserve natural resources. 
which you can buy or make yourself. Tomake your own indoor bin, drill 1/2-inch diameter holes in the bottom andsides of a plastic garbage can. Place abrick in the bottom of a larger garbagecan, surround the brick with a layer ofwood chips or soil, and place the smallercan inside on top of the brick. 

Wrap

insulation around the outer can to keepthe compost warm and co

ver the cans

with a lid. 

Your compost should be

ready in 2 to 5 weeks. Remember totend your pile and keep track of whatyou thr

o

w in. A properly managed compost bin will not attract pests or rodents

and will not smell bad.

4

• Fruit and vegetable scraps• Tea bags• Coffee grounds and filters• Eggshells• Vacuum cleaner lint • Hair clippings• Shredded newspaper• Fireplace ashes • Wool and cotton rags

K

e

e

p

o

ut

• 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

If you can

t compost, grasscycle, or

mulch at home, you can still collectyard waste and donate it to a community composting program or other localbusiness. Farmers often buy compost toenhance crops; landscapers buy it toimprove soil conditions and for decorative purposes; nurseries buy it as pottingsoil; and public agencies buy it to landscape public property such as highway medians and parks. Contactyour local solid waste authority to findout who collects compostable materialsin your area. Some communities evenhave curbside collection—if yours doesn’t, maybe you can help get a program started. 

ion, you will achieve 

 if you follow these 

gs and leaves 

nd sawdust 
tion, you will achieve

 if you follow these

gs and leaves

nd sawdust 

K

e

e

p

o

ut

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 co

ver 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 thr

o

w in. A properly managed compost bin will not attract pests or rodents 

y

p

, g

y

, 

mulch at home, you can still collect yard waste and donate it to a community composting program or other local business. Farmers often buy compost to enhance crops; landscapers buy it to improve soil conditions and for decorative 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. 

and will not smell bad. 

• Fruit and vegetable scraps • Tea bags • Coffee grounds and filters • Eggshells • Vacuum cleaner lint • Hair clippings • Shredded newspaper • Fireplace ashes • Wool and cotton rags 

Ke

ep 

o

ut 

• 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 

4

6

insect-resistant, will not splinter, and will

not absorb bacteria. You can also buy products such as planting pots and wateringcans already made from recycled plastic. 

Use alternative products and

practices

Fertilizers made from organic materials suchas plant extracts and worm castings areavailable at many garden stores. You can

also use several types of plants and beneficial insects that act as natural deterrents to common garden pests. Plantingmarigolds alongside other plants protectsyour garden bed from many types of 

beetles, for example, and ladybugs will eatplant-munching aphids.Web Resources

Greenscaping

U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste 

www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/green/index.htmwww.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/compost/index.htm

Composting

Cornell Composting, the Cornell Waste Management Institutewww.cfe.cornell.edu/compost/Composting_Homepage.html

Xeriscaping

Green Landscaping, U.S. EPAwww.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres

people burn their yard waste as away of disposing of it. Burningyard waste is both a safety and ahealth hazard. Burning yard wasteis not only a fire hazard, but italso can create toxic fumes andpotentially toxic ash. The air pollution it causes can aggravate respiratory conditions, such as asthma.No national regulations prohibitburning your yard waste, but it isnot a recommended disposalmethod. Compost your yard wasteinstead. If composting is not anoption, dispose of your yard wasteaccording to your local laws andregulations.
6 

insect-resistant, will not splinter, and will 

not absorb bacteria. You can also buy products 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 deterrents 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. 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/Composting_Homepage.html 

Xeriscaping 

Green Landscaping, U.S. EPA www.epa.gov/glnpo/greenacres 

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 pollution it causes can aggravate respiratory conditions, such as asthma.No national regulations prohibit burning your yard waste, but it isnot a recommended disposalmethod. Compost your yard waste instead. If composting is not anoption, dispose of your yard waste according to your local laws andregulations.