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Press Clipping
Waste Management urges residents to recycle leaves
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on
Tuesday, November 20, 2007.
Valley Press
PALMDALE – Waste Management of Antelope Valley has issued a reminder that recycling leaves and grass clippings and putting them to work in yards and gardens will help fertilize and produce greener and healthier lawns, plants and flowers.
During autumn, some residents have more leaves than can be accommodated in their green waste containers.
In honor of this year's America Recycles Day, Lancaster, Palmdale and Waste Management of Antelope Valley will promote leaf season recycling to help with the excess green waste.
Lancaster and Palmdale residents may put green biodegradable recycling bags at curbside with their filled green waste containers for pickup on their regular scheduled service days.
Materials acceptable for green waste recycling are grass and lawn clippings, weeds, green plants, small tree branches and shrubs, small wood chips and sawdust, dead plants, garden trimmings and leaves.
Plastic bags, pet waste, palm fronds, soil or dirt, rocks and treated wood must not be placed in green waste containers.
A maximum of five bags can be placed at curbside each week.
Biodegradable bags are made from a corn-based material that is 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable, Waste Management said.
People living inside Lancaster and Palmdale city limits may pick up free bags from Thursday, Nov. 29 through Friday, Dec. 21, while supplies last.
Residents will be allowed to receive two rolls per household, coming to a total of 10 bags.
Bags are available during business hours at Lancaster City Hall, 44933 Fern Ave.; Lancaster Public Works Maintenance Yard, 615 West Ave. H; or the Lancaster Landfill, 600 East Ave. F.
In Palmdale, residents can pick up bags at the Waste Management Payment Center, 1200 West City Ranch Road.
"It is estimated that up to one-third of household waste is organic waste from our yards, just the type of material that can be used in compost," said Lisa Hemenway, recycling compliance manager for Waste Management of Antelope Valley.
"Whether you do it yourself at home or purchase compost or mulch from a green waste recycler, the yard trimmings you pitch into your green waste can or cart can serve as a rich amendment or nutrient for your soil," Hemenway said.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has advice for home composters at www.epa.gov/compost.
The Web site includes information about the composting process, the types of materials that are and are not appropriate for composting, the environmental benefits of recycling organic waste, and regional and state composting programs.
For details about recycling, visit Waste Management's Web site, www.keepingavclean.com.
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