Did you know yard waste - leaves, brush, grass and plant clippings - comprise about 16% of Onondaga County's waste stream? Properly managing your yard waste is one way to minimize the amount of waste you produce.
Lawn Mowing Tip: Mow regularly and never remove more than 1/3 of the blade per mowing. Grass depends on the blade for food and removing too much of it makes the plant less hearty. The longer your grass clippings are, the longer it takes them to decompose, which can lead to excess thatch (a tightly bound layer of dead grass). If you mow regularly and trim properly, you won't need to bag your clippings. In fact, leaving your clippings on the lawn is healthy for your lawn.
Grass clippings are roughly 85% water, when they are less than a 1/2" long, they filter down through the grass and decompose within 10 days. This returns nutrients to the soil and reduces the amount of fertizlier that your lawn needs, by up to 30%.
Want to compost your yard waste?
Place yard trimmings; brush, leaves, grass, etc. in a pile
or bin and allow to decompose.
Build a bin
Compost Mound
This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to compost. Yard wastes can be
composted without a bin if you do not mind the look of a compost mound in your
yard.
What To Do - Find a good location and loosen the soil where your pile
will be. Pile your yard waste in a mound about 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. Create alternate layers of
green (grass clippings) and brown (twigs and leaves) waste. Remember, if you
turn your compost pile it speeds up the process.
What You Need - All you need is a pitchfork or shovel and work gloves.
Compost Bins
Can be made out of many types of materials - blocks or bricks, snow fence,
used pallets, wire mesh, etc.
Blocks or Bricks - Just lay out the blocks or bricks without mortar.
Leave spaces between the blocks or bricks to permit air to circulate. The best
size is approximately 5 - 8 feet square and 3 - 4 feet high.
Snow Fence - Used snow fence is a simple way to build a bin. Just drive
four corner posts into the ground and attach the snow fence.
Used
Pallets - Find four clean pallets and fasten the corners together, and start
filling. You may want to keep one corner loose, so the bin can be opened for
turning and removing compost.
Small-Mesh Wire Fencing - Buy or find wire mesh, form into a circle
or square and add your compost materials.
Bins do not have to be square, they can be rectangular or a circular structure,
it’s your choice. Remember, for a typical home garden, a bin 3-to-4 feet
in height and 5-to-8 feet square will do. Locate it away from buildings and combustible
materials.
Buy a bin from OCRRA
OCRRA offers 2 different types of compost bins which can be purchased (cash only) at either
the Amboy or Jamesville Compost Site during the compost season when the sites are open.
- Yard Waste
Eliminator - $20 This modular bin is built with sturdy (recyclable plastic)
panels that are locked together to create a geometric bin. The panels slide upward
so the compost spills out the bottom and you can easily scoop it up and place
it on top. This makes turning the pile easier. Multiple Yard Waste Eliminators
can be used together to make a taller or wider compost bin.
- Flexi-composter - $5
This flexible plastic panel (made from recyclable plastic) forms a circular bin
and is held together with nuts and bolts.
How to care for your compost
Layering, watering, and turning the compost are the key steps to getting good
compost in a reasonable timeframe.
Layer green (grass clippings) and brown (twigs
and leaves) materials in your pile or bin. If your system is dominated by leaves,
you may want to avoid adding any food scraps, which might attract rodents or
raccoons during the slow decomposition process. If you start with grass and other
green wastes and mix them with leaves and maintain moisture levels (damp but
not soaking wet), food scraps should break down quickly before any pests become
a problem. Food needs to be kept at least 6 inches from the sides, top, and bottom.
To avoid pests do not compost meats, fats or oils in the bin. Chopping or mowing
your wastes makes the process go faster.
A backyard compost thermometer is
available at most garden stores and should be used to determine when to turn
the pile. Cool temperatures below 100 degrees and excessively high pile temperatures
indicate a need to turn.
Locate compost close to a water source in case it becomes
too dry. Good drainage is also important in order to avoid standing water and
the build-up of anaerobic conditions. Avoid exposure to high winds which may
dry and cool the pile, and to direct sunlight which may also dry out the pile.
The compost generated can be used to improve the soil in pots or incorporated
into gardens and flower beds to improve growing conditions and moisture control.
Compost Troubleshooting
| Symptom |
Problem |
Solution |
| The compost has a bad odor |
Not enough air |
Turn it |
| The center of the pile is dry or white mold appears |
Not enough water |
Moisten and turn |
| The heap is sweet smelling but will not heat up. |
Lack of nitrogen |
Mix in nitrogen source (green stuff) |
| The heap is damp in middle but dry everywhere else |
Pile is too small or too dry |
Collect more material; moisten |
Acceptable
/ unacceptable items
What Can Be Composted?
- Grass Clippings
- Yard Trimmings (old
plants, wilted flowers, small prunings)
- Leaves
- Vegetable & Fruit
Scraps
- Coffee Grounds
- Tea Leaves
- Wood Chips
- Shredded Paper (Low grade paper not
acceptable for recycling)
What to Avoid
- Meat, Fish and Poultry (including bones)
- Food Sauces
- Fats, Grease, and Oils
- Dairy Products
- Pet Feces
- Invasive Weeds
- Treated Wood (or any materials containing
strong preservatives or toxins)
- Charcoal
- Non-organics (plastic, metal, glass, etc...)
