Compost

What is Grasscycling?

Grasscycling is the easiest way to reduce your waste. Grasscycling simply means letting the grass clips stay on the lawn when you mow. Grass is primarily made up of two components: water and nitrogen. So, why do we cut grass, bag it and have it hauled away, only to then pay for more water and nitrogen-based fertilizer? When you let your clips fall back onto the lawn, you save time, energy and money.

Contrary to what many people believe, grass clipping do not cause thatch. Thatch is usually caused by excessive watering and over fertilizing.

If you mow very high grass and have a lot of clips left on the ground, sometimes it is necessary to rake them up. This is a perfect opportunity to put that compost bin to use!

What is Composting?

Composting is nature’s way of recycling nutrients. As plants grow, they absorb nutrients from the soil. When they eventually die and decay, the nutrients are returned to the soil. Backyard composting is a way to recapture these nutrients to enrich your yard or garden. When the leaves and grass clips decompose, they become humus, or compost.

Through the Curbside Yard Waste programs your yard waste is taken to a large-scale compost site where it decomposes and becomes a rich, black humus. Backyard composting can be done at home. Both methods keep yard waste out of landfills and produce a reusable by-product.

Why Should We Compost?

As of 1995, Michigan law prohibits disposal of yard waste in landfills. This means that we must use alternate methods to handle yard waste. Each year RRRASOC residents generate 80,000 tons of waste. At least 30% of that waste can be composted. Composting at home not only cuts down on our dependence on trucks to haul yard waste to large-scale compost sites, but it also provides us with our own source of rich humus to reuse in our gardens.

Yard Waste Guidelines

Farmington

Grass and leaves should be put into paper yard waste bags or trash cans labeled with a yard waste sticker. Branches may be no longer than 4' and no thicker than 6" in diameter and must be bundled. No logs, stumps, dirt or rocks will be accepted.

Farmington Hills

Grass and leaves should be put into paper yard waste bags or trash cans labeled with a yard waste sticker. Branches may be no longer than 4' and no thicker than 6" in diameter and must be bundled. No logs, stumps, dirt or rocks will be accepted. Residents may also call the DPW at (248) 871-2850 to request a special pick-up.

Novi

Since the City of Novi is subscription-based for trash service (rather than having a city-wide contract), service providers and curbside guidelines may vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Please contact your individual hauler for guidelines.

Southfield

Grass and leaves should be put into paper yard waste bags or trash cans labeled with a yard waste sticker. Branches and tree limbs must be less than 8 inches in diameter and placed in a pile at curbside. They will be picked up from the curb from spring though fall. No logs, stumps, dirt or rocks will be accepted.

South Lyon

Grass and leaves should be put into paper yard waste bags or trash cans labeled with a yard waste sticker. Branches may be no longer than 4' and no thicker than 3" in diameter and must be bundled. No logs, stumps, dirt or rocks will be accepted. The City of South Lyon vacuums leaves for composting from single family residents throughout the City each fall from approximately October 1 to November 30 until the weather no longer permits (generally after the first snow).

Walled Lake

Grass and leaves should be put into paper yard waste bags or trash cans labeled with a yard waste sticker. Branches may be no longer than 4' and no thicker than 2 " in diameter and must be bundled. No logs, stumps, dirt or rocks will be accepted. The city provides a brush chipping service. Please contact the Walled Lake DPW at (248) 624-4849 for more information.

Wixom

Grass and leaves should be put into paper yard waste bags or trash cans labeled with a yard waste sticker. Branches may be no longer than 4' and no thicker than 6" in diameter and must be bundled. No logs, stumps, dirt or rocks will be accepted.

Benefits of Compost

• Soil conditioner. Mix compost into soil to give it better structure and water movement.

• Mix it into the first few inches of soil in flower beds and containers. Compost helps plant roots penetrate the soil and hold water in the soil.

• Use it as a top soil for new sod or grass seed. Compost acts a slow-release fertilizer to nourish your plants.

• Sprinkle sifted compost over your lawn to fertilize it.