Today's trash can be transformed into food for next spring's garden, if you start a fall compost pile with leaves and kitchen scraps. More than a quarter of the waste that ends up in landfills each year could be composted, said George Dickerson, horticulture specialist with New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service. About 18 percent of landfill waste is leaves, grass clippings and other materials from yards and landscapes. Another 8 percent is food waste. Instead of clogging landfills, those leaves and fruit and vegetable peelings can be recycled as backyard compost.
Leaves are one of the easiest landscape wastes to compost.
Another benefit of removing leaves around shrubs and trees in the landscape is that it helps expose overwintering bugs to freezing weather. Before placing leaves in a compost bin or pile, it's best to run them through a shredder or rotary mower. Shredding speeds up the composting process because it increases surface area, making it easier for microorganisms to do their job of decomposing wastes. Adding food waste, grass clippings, livestock manure, or a nitrogen fertilizer to the shredded leaves also will help microorganisms break down carbon in the leaves. The consistency should be that of a damp sponge.