City Refuse and Recycling Hotline: (949) 497-0323
Waste Management of Orange Co.: (949) 642-1191
Reducing Waste in Your Backyard
Do you know that residential yard waste adds up to about 15-30 percent of what we send to our landfills in Orange County? Yet, leaves, grass and yard trimmings are valuable resources that we can easily recycle in our own backyards by composting and grass recycling. Also, planting water-wise gardens reduce waste and saves water and prevent urban runoff pollution.
When you practice these yard waste management techniques, you will conserve water, save money, and help preserve the environment. These simple practices do not take much time, and help you enjoy healthy and beautiful lawns and gardens.
Composting
Composting is nature's way of recycling organic material like leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps. Bacteria and other microorganisms, as well as a wide variety of insects, consume this material producing an earthy smelling, nutrient-rich compost that can be used around your yard and garden as a soil amendment, mulch, or as part of a homemade potting soil mix for houseplants.
"Hot" Composting produces compost in as little as four weeks although it usually takes a little longer; kills weed seeds, insect eggs and pathogens; and is relatively odorless.
"Slow" Composting is a low maintenance technique that requires less attention to the details of materials used. Materials are generally slower to decompose, taking from six months to a year.
"Closed-Air" Composting is a type of low-maintenance technique especially good for composting food scraps, as well as yard clippings.
Making compost is very simple and can be done using a simple pile or a composting bin.
Just follow these easy steps:
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Set aside a small area in the shade and loosen the soil under the pile or bin to provide better drainage.
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Place about an equal amount of green and brown materials into the compost bin or pile. Be sure to shred or chop the compost materials into small pieces about 1 inch across.
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Thoroughly mix and water the compost materials (it should feel like a damp sponge, moist but not soggy).
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Build your compost pile until it is about 3 ft. wide and 3 ft. high. Tops of the pile with finished compost, soil, or straw and cover it with a tarp to help retain moisture. If you are using a compost bin, be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions.
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The pile or bin will begin to heat up within a few days to about 140 degrees, so be careful not to stick your hands in without wearing gloves. Mix the compost pile every 7 to 10 days, and add water as necessary.
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The compost is ready when it appears dark, crumbles easily and you cannot recognize any of the materials you started with.
Materials to avoid:
- Large branches or logs
- Plastics or synthetic fibers
- Manure from meat eating animals
- Meats, fatty/oily foods
- Plants that have been treated with herbicides/pesticides
- Charcoal ashes
Materials to add with caution:
- Diseased plants or plants suffering from severe insect attack
- Weeds and seeds (ivy, succulents, Bermuda grass, morning glory, mallow)
Grass Recycling
Grass recycling is a simple and natural approach to lawn care. Clippings are left on the lawn after mowing to decompose quickly. That way you can save time, get a great lawn, and help the environment all at once. It will be helpful to follow these suggestions:
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Only cut the top third of grass each time you mow.
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Mow every 5-7 days during spring and summer.
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Grasscycling only takes about half as long as bagging.
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Mow your lawn when it is dry.
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Only one inch of water is needed each week (including rainfall). Or about 10-20 minutes of watering for a healthy growth in the summer. Your lawn might require a little more or less water. A half-inch per week is enough for fall and spring. Water in the morning.
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If you get run-off, that means you are watering too much.
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Your lawn needs less fertilizer when you grasscycle. Your lawn naturally grows faster in the summer. If you still want to apply fertilizer, use the slow release kinds in fall and spring for a steady growth.
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Consider buying a mulching mower when it is time for a new one.
Worm Composting
Worm bins are dark, cool boxes with redworms and moist shredded newspaper to which food and yard materials are added. It is particularly useful for apartment dwellers or others with little space.
For More Information
Visit http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/organics for further information for composting.
Additional Links
Frequently Asked Questions
