What to do with your autumn leaves
When the leaves fall from your trees, consider them a resource. They contain nutrients that your lawn and garden needs! After playfully enjoying your leaf pile, here are a few eco-friendly options.
What do do with your leaves
Bag up dry leaves to use as a carbon source ("browns") for your backyard compost pile in the coming year.
Use leaves to provide a protective layer of insulation for perennial gardens and shrubbery, either bagged or loose.
Use a mulching mower to break leaves into tiny pieces and leave them on your lawn.
Compost your yard waste at home or at a compost site.
What NOT to do with your leaves
Don't throw yard waste in the trash. Mixing yard and tree waste with your trash is illegal and is not the best use of this resource.
Don't rake leaves onto the street or sidewalk. Leaves raked into the street end up being washed down storm drains and into wetlands and lakes. When they break down in water bodies, they release nutrients, which cause algae blooms in the summer. Don't rake additional leaves into lakes or streams, either.
Don't burn large piles of leaves. Burning leaves releases large amounts of air pollution. These pollutants can cause breathing problems for sensitive groups and lead to long-term health effects for all of us.
A new rule for curbside pick up of yard waste
Residents in the Twin Cities area who bag their yard and organic waste for curbside pick up are now required to put their waste in compostable bags--either paper bags or compostable plastic bags.
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