Whether trimming fruit trees, mowing lawns, or pruning shrubbery, residential yard maintenance can result in piles of leaves, greenery, and woody debris. But how do homeowners get rid of that yard waste?
Alternatives to burning: chip, compost, or haul?
Chipping is a great option for homeowners with lots of woody debris (i.e. fruit tree prunings) and who want a good, safe ground-cover mulch for their beds. Small chippers (4” diameter limb capacity) rent for approximately $75 for 4 hours from big hardware retailers (i.e., Lowes or Home Depot), or $180/day at equipment rental shops like Lew Rents or Sunbelt Rentals.
For gardeners, home composting makes great sense, since the leaves, stalks, and vines from your vegetable garden can be converted back into nutrient-rich compost for next year’s crop. The WSU Extension office in your county may be able to assist in setting up an efficient composting system for your garden.
A curbside pickup service could meet the needs of homeowners who just deal with grass clippings and landscape prunings. Lemay/Waste Connections for instance offers curbside ‘green waste’ pickup throughout most of Thurston County for approximately $11 per month.
Hauling your yard waste to a commercial composter may be the most efficient means of disposal, however. For instance, one recent load of tree trimmings (pruning from three apple trees, three pear trees, and a large fir), grass clippings, and general garden clean-up debris took just a couple of hours to complete (loading a utility trail, driving to the composter, unloading, and driving back). The cost of disposing of 1,065 pounds of organic waste at Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center (WARC) was just $28.
Burning Rules
Burning is prohibited in cities and Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) in Washington state. But outside those city and UGA boundaries, residential yard waste burning may be allowed. (NOTE: Residents of Thurston County, may check their address here to see if burning is allowed at their property). But burning is not a simple matter, and it can create problems for neighbors. Remember: Yard waste should be stored on-site long enough to let it dry out enough to not be a massive smoke producer (which can result in fines!). Permits are required in many areas, with strict permit terms. In Thurston County, getting a permit is admittedly an easy process through ORCAA’s website but it’s important to remember to adhere to all the terms of that permit.
And at all times, and at all locations throughout Washington, remember: