Transcript Recycle Yard Waste - University of Florida

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
Recycle
Yard Waste
Author: Rebecca McNair
Edited by: Allison Steele
Why Recycle?
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Retains the nutrients
in your landscape
Saves money on fertilizer, mulch
and waste disposal
Florida law prohibits disposal of
yard waste in lined landfills
The Legal Definition
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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…
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Tree and shrub trimmings
Leaves and palm fronds
Grass
Stumps
Florida’s Municipal Waste
Stream in 1998
(FDEP Solid Waste Report, 2000)
Landfilled
56%
Combusted
16%
Recycled
28%
In 1998, yard waste made up 12% of the
municipal waste stream, or 3.5 million tons.
Recycling Solutions
Overview:
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Mulching
“Grasscycling”
Composting
Earthworm farming
Recycled Mulch
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Choose by-product alternatives such
as Melaleuca mulch:
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Harvested from invasive plant stands
Reduces destruction of natural wetland
areas in Florida
Slow decomposition
Suppresses weeds
Not eaten by
termites
Yard Waste = Mulch= $
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Leaves and pine needles can remain
under trees for a “self mulching” area
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Cost of one bag
Pine Nuggets
= $3.00
Reducing garbage,
Priceless!
Utility Mulch
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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
Grasscycling
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Grass clippings can be left on the lawn
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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.
Composting
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Disposes of food and yard wastes
through natural processes
Enhances the soil on your property
Releases essential elements to plants
What is Compost?
Rich, black,
sweet-smelling,
crumbly, soillike substance
comprised of
decomposed
organic matter
Composting at Home
Overview:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Selecting a Location
Choosing a Container
Assembling the Pile
Maintaining the Pile
Harvesting Finished Compost
Selecting A Location
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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
Choosing A Container
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Pile method
Bin
Pile Method
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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.
Compost Bins
Purchase a compost bin or
build your own. Consider:
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Appearance
Size- at least 1 cubic yard
Accessibility- to add materials and
remove finished compost
Ability to mix materials inside
Creature access
A bin is not necessary,
but useful for deterring
pests and keeping the
pile neat.
Compost Happens
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Microorganisms (microbes) initiate
decomposition under favorable
environmental conditions.
They need:
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Food
Oxygen
Moisture
Temperature
Assembling the Pile
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For faster decomposition,
follow these steps:
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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
“Browns”
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Carbon-rich materials
Energy source for microbes
Typically low in moisture
Degrade slowly
Bulky materials help aerate
May cause nitrogen
deficiencies in plants
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If insufficient nitrogen is
present for microbial
breakdown
“Greens”
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Nitrogen-rich materials
Microbes use for protein
synthesis and reproduction
High moisture content
Degrade rapidly
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Compact easily
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Can be a source of foul odors
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Compostable Materials
Nitrogen-Rich
Carbon-Rich
Grass clippings
Straw
Manure
Shredded
branches
Vegetable food
scraps
Uncolored Paper
Coffee grounds
Pine needles
Hair
Leaves
C:N Ratios
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The carbon to nitrogen ratio
determines the decomposition RAPID
rate of organic materials
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Grass clippings ~ 20:1
Fruit waste ~ 35 :1
Leaves ~ 60 :1
Straw ~ 100 :1
Wood ~ 600 :1
SLOW
30:1 is ideal, obtained by adding
one part browns to one part greens
Particle Size
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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
Materials to Avoid
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Do NOT add:
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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.
Provide Oxygen
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Without oxygen (anaerobic conditions),
microbes produce foul smelling compounds
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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
Provide Moisture
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Microbes need moisture for their bodies
Water pile when needed
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45% ~ 65% moisture content
“Squeeze test”-Squeeze compost in your
hand: moisture should coat your hand,
but not drip
To lower moisture content:
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Protect from heavy rains
Add dry material
and turn pile
Temperature
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The metabolic activity of microbes will
raise the temperature of the compost
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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
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Microbial activity starts to decline
around 130 º F
Maintaining the Pile
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Turn pile occasionally
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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
Factors Affecting
Decomposition Rates:
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Presence of
microorganisms
Oxygen
Moisture
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Temperature
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 Type
of materials
 Particle
 Size
size
of the pile
 Frequency
turning
of
Harvest Compost
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Collect mature compost when it is dark,
soil-like, and earthy smelling
Screen compost
Remove larger pieces
and return those
to the compost pile
Use Compost
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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.
Vermiculture
Earthworm Farming
Red wigglers, Eisenia foetida and brownnose worms, Lumbricus rubellas recycle
thin layers of food scraps and paper
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Worms eat decaying
food and paper
Excrete castings,
rich in nutrients
Temperatures lower
than compost pile
Further Reading
http://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
Thanks for your attention!
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