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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Recycling SolutionsOverview: Mulching “Grasscycling” Composting Earthworm farming
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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
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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!
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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
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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.
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Composting Disposes of food and yard wastes
through natural processes Enhances the soil on your property Releases essential elements to
plants
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What is Compost?
Rich, black, sweet-
smelling, crumbly, soil-like substance comprised of decomposed
organic matter
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Composting at Home
Overview:1) Selecting a Location2) Choosing a Container 3) Assembling the Pile4) Maintaining the Pile5) Harvesting Finished Compost
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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
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Choosing A Container
Pile method Bin
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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.
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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
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A bin is not necessary, but useful
for deterring pests and keeping the pile
neat.
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Compost Happens Microorganisms (microbes)
initiate decomposition under favorable environmental conditions. They need: Food Oxygen Moisture Temperature
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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
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“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
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“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
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Compostable Materials
Nitrogen-Rich
Grass clippings
Manure
Vegetable food scraps
Coffee grounds
Hair
Carbon-Rich
Straw
Shredded branches
Uncolored Paper
Pine needles
Leaves
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Factors Affecting Decomposition Rates:
Presence of microorganisms
Oxygen Moisture
Temperature
Type of materials
Particle size
Size of the pile
Frequency of turning
Review
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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!