Each year, yard waste accounts for more than a million tons of our state's solid waste. Burning leaves is not a good idea. Recycle leaves either for mulch or as compost for improving soil is a good alternative.
Leaves make excellent mulch for outdoor plants and shrubs.
Mulch conserves water, suppresses weeds and moderates fluctuating soil temperatures that can disturb roots. By fall, when the next batch of leaves is about to drop, the previous year's mulch will have decomposed almost completely. Leaves also can be turned into compost. Compost is the natural decomposition of organic waste material under controlled conditions. Composting at home saves time and cost of disposing of and transporting leaves, and provides an environmentally sound way to manage leaves.