Yard waste can pile up quickly.If you live in an urban or semi-urban area, you probably have a local collection service that will pick up your leaves and branches.You can drop off yard waste at many facilities.Make sure to follow the guidelines for getting your leaves and branches ready for pickup or drop-off.It is possible to recycle some of your leaves into mulch or compost that will feed your lawn and garden.
Step 1: Yard waste pickup times and rules can be found on the city website.
Most towns and cities have a curbside yard waste pickup service, but every community has its own rules and regulations about what they will pick up, when they pick it up and how you have to leave it.You can find a page about yard waste collection on the local government website.If you don't know what your city's website is, you can use a search engine to find it.It's easy to put your leaves and branches out for collection if you have a yard waste collection in your community.If you have a yard waste bin, it is important to read up on local guidelines about what you can and can't put in it, what days and times the city picks it up, and other important info.
Step 2: You can put leaves in a yard waste bin or a paper lawn and leaf bag.
If you have a yard waste bin, you can throw the leaves and branches into it.If you don't have a yard waste bin or you have additional leaves and branches to dispose of, use paper lawn and leaf bags.You can buy paper lawn and leaf bags online or at a home improvement center.Department stores and garden centers usually sell them.You can find out if you can put leaves and branches in a container labeled "yard waste only" on your local government website.If the branches are too large to fit in the yard waste bin or lawn and leaf bags, you can break them apart.
Step 3: Use twine or rope to bundle branches.
The maximum allowed dimensions for bundled branches can be found on your city's website.If you want to secure the branches together, tie a piece of twine or rope around the bundles that are no bigger than the permitted dimensions.You can only put out bundles that are up to 4 ft long and 2 ft wide.Up to 4 in (10 cm) in diameter might be the limit on how big the branches can be.Yard waste is usually not allowed to be left for pickup.If you hire a landscaper to trim your trees, they are responsible for disposing of the waste.
Step 4: Before the day and time for pickup, place your yard waste by the curb.
Double-check when your city collects yard waste.Place your yard waste bin, paper lawn and leaf bags, and bundles of branches neatly by the curb where you normally place your garbage and recycling before the designated time so that it will get picked up.On Mondays, your city's yard waste collection time might be between 7 and 9 a.m.On Sunday night or Monday morning, you would have to remove your leaves and branches.Make sure that your yard waste doesn't block the streets.Wait until the next pickup day to put your yard waste out if you miss the collection time.Don't leave it sitting out until the next time the city comes around to collect it.
Step 5: You can find a yard waste drop-off facility.
If you want to find a place where you can dispose of your leaves and branches, you should use the phrase "yard waste drop-off site."Note the locations of each facility, the times they accept drop-offs, and what materials they don't accept.If there is no curbside pickup service in your area, or if you are a professional landscaper who is responsible for disposing of the yard waste you generate, this is an alternative to putting it out for collection.Composting depots, dumps, recycling facilities, and even community gardens are some of the facilities that accept leaves and branches.You have the option of choosing the site that is most convenient to you.
Step 6: You should cut branches to the sizes allowed by the facility you plan to drop them off at.
To trim large branches, use a saw or garden shears.You will take them too if they fall within the size limits.A facility may only accept branches that are less than 3 ft in length and under 10 cm in diameter.
Step 7: The leaves should be placed in paper lawn and leaf bags.
Delivery of leaves and plant trimmings inside paper lawn and leaf bags is required at most drop-off facilities.To minimize the number of bags you use, fill each bag as much as possible.Yard waste recycling facilities don't accept leaves if they are in plastic bags.
Step 8: During open hours, take your leaves and branches to the drop-off facility.
Make sure your facility is open on the day you plan to drop off your yard waste.Put the leaves and branches in a vehicle and drive them to the facility.The facilities are usually open on weekdays from 7 a.m to 5 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.
Step 9: If you don't have a proper vehicle, hire someone to haul your yard waste.
If you don't have a vehicle that you can fit your leaves and branches into, contract a landscaper, a waste hauler, or just someone with a pickup truck to come take your yard waste to a drop-off facility.Schedule a time for them to pick up the yard waste and take it to a facility for proper disposal.There are a lot of junk hauling services that will take everything away.You can find these services by searching for "yard waste hauling service" or "junk haulers" in your area.
Step 10: You can mulch leaves into your lawn.
Leave the leaves where they fell off of the trees or spread them over your lawn.Run a lawnmower over them to cut them up into mulch that will help your lawn grow.Before you start mowing over the leaves, make sure there are no branches or large pieces of debris on the lawn.
Step 11: You can turn leaves into compost by putting them in a bin.
The leaves should be put into a backyard composter along with kitchen scraps.compost can be used for gardening projects.You can build a composting bin on a free afternoon if you don't have a bin.Composting will cut down on the amount of yard waste you have to put out for collection or haul away.
Step 12: If it's allowed in your area, you can burn leaves and branches.
If burning yard waste is allowed in your area, check the local bylaw.Set leaves and branches on fire to dispose of yard waste in large, open areas away from buildings and overhanging trees.Burning leaves and branches emits pollutants, and there is a risk of accidentally spreading a fire, so use this technique as a last resort.You can recycle as much as you can by turning leaves into mulch or compost.If you live in a rural area without a yard waste collection service or a nearby drop-off facility, this is the most practical method to get rid of leaves and branches.