Some trees, such as Brazilian Pepper, can produce toxic smoke when burned. Composting is an environmentally friendly way to utilize yard waste. Compost can be added to the soil in ornamental and vegetable gardens to increase moisture retention, improve soil drainage and aeration, increase biological activity of soil organisms, and also supply small amounts of nutrients. Virtually any kind of container, manufactured or homemade, can serve as a composter as long as there are plenty of holes to allow ventilation. To be most effective you need to have a mixture of green and brown materials.
Green materials provide nitrogen.
Examples of brown materials are fallen leaves, shredded newspaper, saw dust from untreated wood, and egg shells. The brown materials provide carbon. Remove or chop any large pieces of mulch before adding to your compost mix. Depending on the materials, the ratio of green to brown, the ambient temperature, and the moisture content you can expect to have usable compost in 6 to 12 weeks. By using your own homemade compost you will be rewarded with healthier plants and vegetables in your garden while reducing the impact of yard waste on the environment.