You may not be thinking about yard work in the dark days of February quite yet, but spring is approaching. As you begin to think about those afternoons of trimming hedges and cutting brush, DNR encourages you to consider other ways to rid your yard of waste instead of burning it. Since you run the risk of an escaped fire when burning (not to mention smoke pollution), why not consider different ways to do away with that yard waste.
Compost it. It’s a practical and convenient approach for disposing of yard waste. Any vegetable matter can be composted. Organic material, such as fallen leaves, grass clippings, weeds, and the remains of garden plants, make excellent compost. Used as mulch for paths, they will eventually decompose and become compost. Care must be taken when composting kitchen scraps. Meat, bones, and fatty foods (such as cheese, salad dressing, and leftover cooking oil) should be put in the garbage. Check with your local Master Composters for class schedules on how to compost.
Chip it. Turn large branches and debris into mulch. If you don’t already own a chipper, check with your local equipment rental agency. Invite your neighbors to join in to make it more cost efficient for everyone.
Use curbside pickup.
Take it to an approved landfill that accepts yard waste. Many counties have residential yard waste composting facilities.
Don’t risk burning
The biggest human cause of wildfires in Washington is outdoor burning. These escaped wildfires are investigated and, if found guilty, you can be fined. If burning is allowed in your area, the only material that can be burned is natural vegetation grown on the property where the burning occurs. Also, remember that smoke can be a nuisance to your neighbors.
We talk about fire prevention every day at DNR, so when it’s time for you to clean up your property for spring, please consider an alternative to burning.
