Spring has sprung, which probably has you itching to do some yard work and get the deck ready. So why not reduce waste and prevent pollution while you’re at it? Here are some tips to help you keep spring “green.”
Thank you very mulch
Help the planet and beautify your yard by using mulch. Mulch your grass clippings so they can provide free fertilizer and water retention for your lawn. Apply wood mulch to your landscaped areas to hold moisture for your flowers and shrubs and prevent weed growth. Keep it local by acquiring your mulch from a metro-area yard waste collection/processor. Search for “Yard Waste Drop-Off” locations on RecycleSpot.
Composting: a rotten habit to get into
About 20% to 30% of your household waste is 100% compostable. We’re talking food waste and yard waste. Compost is the best type of fertilizer for your gardens and landscaping. There are many different composting options. You just need to find the option or options that work best for you.
Yard waste can be composted in your backyard or through drop off and curbside pickup services. If you want to use your compost in your garden or landscaping, consider backyard composting. If you’d rather let someone else deal with it, contact your trash hauler to find out if they offer curbside pickup. If not, there are yard waste pickup services you can subscribe to. There are also multiple drop-off locations around the metro area. Search “Residential Yard Waste Pick Up” or “Yard Waste Drop-Off” locations on RecycleSpot.
There are also several great options for food waste composting: backyard (see above), curbside pickup, drop-off, vermicomposting, and Bokashi. For more info, visit KCFoodWise.
They lurk in your garage and shed
The chemicals we use on our yards and in our lawn equipment are all potentially dangerous. You can safely dispose of any old or unwanted paint, stains, lawn-equipment fluids, fertilizers, pesticides, cleaners, and batteries through your household hazardous waste program. Choose safer, greener options like electric yard equipment and planting native.
Scrap it
If you have an old BBQ grill, lawn mower, fire pit or metal deck furniture that needs to be replaced, you can recycle it at a scrap metal dealer or a recycling center with a scrap metal bin. To find one near you, search “Metal / Scrap Metal” on RecycleSpot. Just remember to empty all fluids from a mower before you recycle it.
Don't tangle with "tanglers"
Plastic landscaping bags, old garden hoses, and nonworking extension cords are called “tanglers” because they tangle up in recycling sorting machinery. So do not put them in your curbside bin. Extension cords can be recycled at Midwest Recycling Center (18th & Vine District, KCMO), Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park, PayMore (Overland Park), and PayMore (Lee’s Summit). You can reuse old garden hoses in various ways such as tree supports, yard-tool blade covers, and easy-grip bucket handles. Plastic landscaping bags should be disposed in the trash.
For locations where you can donate, recycle or properly dispose just about anything, visit RecycleSpot.