​10 Tips for Reducing Your Yard Waste

by Rick Edwards, Sustainable NCW

Are you knee deep in grass clippings, leaves and other yard debris? Consider adopting one or more of the following practices that will REDUCE the amount of yard waste that you produce in the first place! This is especially important for new construction or for a major landscape renovation.

1. Start with Good Landscape Design and Plant Selection: Beginning with and staying true to a good landscape design/plant selection can result in less maintenance = less yard waste.
2. Think FireWise: In NCW, it's best to think Firewise in planning and maintaining your landscape. Many features of a well-planned FireWise landscape will result in reduced yard waste.
3. Always think Right Plant in the Right Place: Doing so will minimize your need to prune and eliminate the need to dig up and dispose of that tree or bush planted too close to the house.
4. Consider some level of Hardscape Conversion: Installing a strategically placed hardscape feature (e.g., patio or pathway) will reduce yard waste, water use and increase enjoyment.
5. Install a Succulent Bed: Adding a garden area dedicated to NCW-friendly succulent plants will create an area of diversity and lower maintenance in your landscape.
6. Practice No Mow May: Delay your first spring lawn mowing in order to support early pollinators and to stimulate more aggressive grass root growth.
7. Practice "Grasscycling": Consider purchasing a mulching mower or installing a mulching blade on your existing one (no grass catching). If you buy new, consider a battery-powered mower.
8. Just Leave (Some of) the Leaves: Use leaves as a winter mulch on garden beds and those wilder spots on your property. Plus, a light scattering of leaves left on the lawn is actually beneficial.
9. Create Wildlife Habitat: Learn about how you can turn some of that yard "waste" into urban wildlife habitat (e.g., a randomized pile of limbs = hiding habitat for some bird species).
10. Think Wabi-Sabi: Chill out a bit about maintaining so much order in your lawn and garden! Wabi-Sabi will help you sit back, relax and reflect on the beauty of your garden's imperfections.

BOTTOM LINE: PLEASE keep what yard "waste" you do produce OUT OF THE LANDFILL by reducing yard waste, composting at home, curbside cart composting with Waste Management or hauling your accumulated yard waste to the Stemilt Organic Recycling Center in Wenatchee or to Winton MFG Compost Works upriver of Leavenworth. THANK YOU!

Ask the Waste Wizard about this and any other reduce, reuse, donation, recycling or proper disposal questions on your mind:). Please visit the Waste Wizard at: sustainablencw.org/wastewizard.