The Green Yarders are a 10 member committee of local government officials and gardeners, who call themselves the GREEN YARDERS> They came together for a simple mission: reduce the amount of yard debris Tallahassee residents pile at the street to be hauled to the landfill. THey meet monthly, attend events to raise awareness and have crafted videos to spread the word. Each year in Leon County, at least 17,000 tons of yard debris is carted to the landfill. From there a company that contracts with the county chops up the debris, and sells it to wood pulp companies as boiler fuel. They leave part of what they chop up as coarse and fine mulch at the landfill, free of charge to residents.
When you look at the costs involved, you'll realize why the Green Yarders became organized to spread the word. Crews have to pick up the debris, haul it to the landfill, and you're already guessing at the costs of gas, manpower, and equipment. At the landfill, workers have to debag leaves and pile up debris, which costs more. All told, the city and county spend aabout 1.5 million per year to pick up and dispose of yard debris. It is a waste of taxpayer money believe the Green Yarders. Folks who want less government, and less taxes, need to re-think putting the debris at the curb. Keeping more of your debris on your property will help. Create a brush pile, where you put all your leaves, bush trimmings, broken branches and grass clippings. Put the leaves, and twigs on a tarp (or old shower curtain) and drag them to your pile. it's a lot easier than bagging them. And your pile may get high, but it will decompose during the coming months.
Other ways to reduce the debris hauled away are to cut your grass higher to reduce the amount of grass clipping. Leave the clippings on your yard, they help fertilize and enrich the soil. You can add mulching blades to your mower to make the clippings finer. Spread your leaves on your garden bed as mulch.. Put about 4 - 5 inches of fallen leaves around your trees. Don't pile anything around the tree trunk, which can contain moisture and causes rot. Put your leaves around all your plants before the first freeze. You'll protect the roots, and keep heat in the soil.
Compost, compost, compost. The city and county both sell coposting machines which you can feed food scraps and yard debris. These produce nutrients for your yard, reduce your debris, and eliminates the need for fertilizer. The compost you make at home has more nitrogen than any commercial fertilizer. Nitrogen is good for your flowers and planats and grass. And, you,re keeping more stuff out of the landfill!! Think of the expenditures you've saved yourself, along with the city/county. You don't need those plastic yard bags, you've reduced the garbage hauled off by putting your fruit/veggie refuse in the composter, and by recycling, you've reduced your footprint even more.
