Many people take a break from landscaping during our dry, hot summers. Instead, attention goes to just keeping what’s there alive. If you’re looking to make some changes this fall, however, here are some composting tips from our partners at Earth Gauge.

Digging in a Compost Pile with a Shovel (Courtesy: EPA)

Did you know that in 2010, Americans cut enough grass and other clippings from their yards to equal the weight of 91 Empire State Buildings?  All that waste has to go somewhere and more than 40 percent of it went into landfills.  Some of that waste made its way into our waterways where its nutrients became food for algae blooms that close beaches and recreation areas, produce toxins and create “dead zones” as big as New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico.  Luckily, almost 60 percent of yard waste was retained in compost piles where its nutrients were conserved and reused.  Compost is a natural, home-made fertilizer that feeds your lawn over the course of its growing season – it also improves the overall health and water dynamics of your soil.  That means you may not have to water your lawn as often and it won’t be as easy for those nutrients to get into our waterways.

Here are some more reasons to compost:

• It Saves Money – You probably won’t have to pay for fertilizers and townships will have less waste to transport.  Some of them won’t accept yard waste anymore without charging a fee.
• It Reduces Your Trash – On average, yard waste and food scraps account for nearly one third of your annual trash contributions, so compost them instead!

Click here for ways to get started.