Recycle Yard Waste

Why Recycle?

Yard Waste

Define

Uses

Recycled Mulch

Recycled Grass

Composting at Home

Assembling Pile

Materials to Use/Avoid

Maintaining Pile

Harvesting Pile

Earthworm Farming

Author: Rebecca McNairEdited by: Allison Steele

Why Recycle?

Retains the nutrients in your landscape

Saves money on fertilizer, mulch and waste disposal

Florida law prohibits disposal of yard waste in lined landfills

The Legal Definition

Yard trash is defined by the 1988 Florida Solid Waste Management Act as “vegetative matter resulting from landscape maintenance and land clearing operations.” It includes… Tree and shrub trimmings Leaves and palm fronds Grass Stumps

Florida’s Municipal Waste Stream in 1998 (FDEP Solid Waste Report, 2000)

Landfilled56%

Combusted16%

Recycled28%

In 1998, yard waste made up 12% of the municipal waste stream, or 3.5 million tons.

Recycling SolutionsOverview: Mulching “Grasscycling” Composting Earthworm farming

Recycled Mulch Choose by-product alternatives

such as Melaleuca mulch: Harvested from invasive plant stands Reduces destruction of natural

wetland areas in Florida Slow decomposition Suppresses weeds Not eaten by

termites

Yard Waste = Mulch= $ Leaves and pine needles can

remain under trees for a “self mulching” area Cost of one bag

Pine Nuggets = $3.00

Reducing garbage, Priceless!

Utility Mulch Many municipalities

offer free utility mulch A by-product of pruning trees

near power lines Be aware of variable quality

and consistency You may need to partially compost

to kill any weeds, seeds, or insect pests

Grasscycling Grass clippings can be left on the

lawn Saves money- This is equivalent to

about one fertilizer application per year!

Saves time

Remove only 1/3 of the grass blade

Grasscycling does not result in thatch build-up. Thatch is stem and root overgrowth caused by over-fertilization and over-watering.

Composting Disposes of food and yard wastes

through natural processes Enhances the soil on your property Releases essential elements to

plants

What is Compost?

Rich, black, sweet-

smelling, crumbly, soil-like substance comprised of decomposed

organic matter

Composting at Home

Overview:1) Selecting a Location2) Choosing a Container 3) Assembling the Pile4) Maintaining the Pile5) Harvesting Finished Compost

Level ground Well-drained surface Near a source of water At least 2 feet from any structure Close to source of materials

Selecting A Location

Choosing A Container

Pile method Bin

Pile Method No container is used; organic

materials are simply mounded in a pile

A layer of soil, leaves, or finished compost on top of fresh kitchen wastes will help deter pests.

Compost BinsPurchase a compost bin or build your own. Consider: Appearance Size- at least 1 cubic yard Accessibility- to add materials and remove finished compost Ability to mix materials inside Creature access

A bin is not necessary, but useful

for deterring pests and keeping the pile

neat.

Compost Happens Microorganisms (microbes)

initiate decomposition under favorable environmental conditions. They need: Food Oxygen Moisture Temperature

Assembling the Pile For faster decomposition,

follow these steps: Put twigs or small branches on the

bottom of the pile to allow air to circulate

Layer materials, alternating nitrogen and carbon layers

End with a carbon layer Add water to moisten, not soak

“Browns” Carbon-rich materials Energy source for microbes Typically low in moisture Degrade slowly Bulky materials help aerate May cause nitrogen

deficiencies in plants If insufficient nitrogen is

present for microbial breakdown

“Greens” Nitrogen-rich materials Microbes use for protein

synthesis and reproduction

High moisture content Degrade rapidly Compact easily Can be a source of foul odors

Compostable Materials

Nitrogen-Rich

Grass clippings

Manure

Vegetable food scraps

Coffee grounds

Hair

Carbon-Rich

Straw

Shredded branches

Uncolored Paper

Pine needles

Leaves

C:N Ratios The carbon to nitrogen ratio

determines the decomposition rate of organic materials

Grass clippings ~ 20:1 Fruit waste ~ 35 :1 Leaves ~ 60 :1 Straw ~ 100 :1 Wood ~ 600 :1

30:1 is ideal, obtained by adding one part browns to one part greens

SLOW

RAPID

Particle Size Size of particles also affect the

rate of decomposition Break twigs and small branches Shred newspaper and palm

fronds Grind stumps Coarsely chop larger pieces of

vegetable matter

Materials to Avoid Do NOT add:

Meat or dairy products Oils or mayonnaise Plants recently treated with pesticides Seed-laden weeds Pressure treated wood

Animal products create odor problems and attract pests.

Provide Oxygen Without oxygen (anaerobic conditions),

microbes produce foul smelling compounds Alcohols and organic acids that are

detrimental to plants Referred to as “sour”

Incorporate bulky materials like twigs, pine needles, wood chips and straw to provide air space

Turn pile immediately if odor is detected

Provide Moisture Microbes need moisture for their bodies Water pile when needed

45% ~ 65% moisture content “Squeeze test”-Squeeze compost in your

hand: moisture should coat your hand, but not drip

To lower moisture content: Protect from heavy rains Add dry material

and turn pile

Temperature The metabolic activity of microbes will

raise the temperature of the compost This kills weed seeds and pathogens A critical mass is needed, ideal pile size

is 3 ft. x 3 ft. x 3 ft. Microbes can survive a range of

temperatures, but an optimal temperature for decomposition is about 125º F Microbial activity starts to decline

around 130 º F

Maintaining the Pile

Turn pile occasionally Breaks up materials Increases rate of decomposition Exposes weed seeds, insect larvae, and

pathogens to lethal temperatures in the core of the pile

Add “greens” to the center of the pile

Pile “browns on top, or layer with fresh “greens” in the center

Factors Affecting Decomposition Rates:

Presence of microorganisms

Oxygen Moisture

Temperature

Type of materials

Particle size

Size of the pile

Frequency of turning

Review

Harvest Compost Collect mature compost when it is

dark, soil-like, and earthy smelling Screen compost Remove larger pieces

and return those to the compost pile

Use Compost Apply to plant beds as a soil

amendment Use as mulch Blend with

sand, peat, and perlite for a potting media

Layer 1”-2” of compost underneath decorative mulch to save money and improve soil fertility.

Vermiculture- Earthworm Farming

Red wigglers, Eisenia foetida and brown-nose worms, Lumbricus rubellas recycle thin layers of food scraps and paper Worms eat decaying

food and paper Excrete castings,

rich in nutrients Temperatures lower

than compost pile

Further Readinghttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

Fact Sheet AE 23: Construction of Home Compost Units

SL 114: Converting Yard Waste into Landscaping Assets

Circular 958: Backyard Composting of Yard Waste

Circular 455: Earthworm Biology and Production

Circular 1053: Culture of Earthworms for Bait or Fish Food

The following presentation was made possible through a grant from FL DEP and EPA. Special thanks to the following reviewers for their valued contributions:

FL114 ELM Design Team and the FYN Subcommittee

Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF

Agriculture Education and Communication Department

Environmental Horticulture Department

Entomology and Nematology Department

Soil and Water Sciences Department

Florida Cooperative Extension Service in: Alachua, Broward, Clay, Hillsborough, Lake, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Sarasota, and Volusia Counties

Florida Organics Recycling Center for Excellence

The Center For Wetlands, UF

United States Department of Agriculture

FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences: Division of Plant Industry

Thanks for your attention!