According to MDPI, “The results indicate that households in England produce an average of 0.79 kg of garden waste per day or 288 kg per year.” Shocking revelations such as these make you wonder about the most sustainable ways of managing garden waste.
Especially now with lockdown, everybody has turned their attention towards household maintenance and that includes gardening. With spending time in the garden proving to be both a hobby as well as a chore, some activities related to handling the waste is a crucial step many tend to overlook. Along with nurturing the plants, you also have the added responsibility of taking care of the green wastage.
It is highly recommended not to discard waste into public land or water. Seek advice from your local council to check if there is a centralized waste recycling point. While there are a ton of options available today, it all boils down to the kind of gardener you want to be. Choose to be a sustainable, long-lasting, environmentally responsible, considerate super-gardener!
By the end of this blog, you will have acquired awesome tips on how to essentially reduce, reuse, and recycle your backyard waste. Have you ever had to scratch your head and wonder, “What’s the deal with composting garden waste?” Read further to know more. Consider this your ultimate garden clearance guide!
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS? SEGREGATE THE WASTE
It is a myth to say that all garden waste is meant to be tossed in the bin. Fortunately, most of the time, green waste can be your friendly future compost.
Broadly, garden waste is a collection of plant matter from gardening activities, including:
- small twigs
- shrubs
- weeds
- grass cuttings
- hedge trimmings
- leaves
- flowers
- wood chips
- soil
Since all of these materials are eligible for recycling, they fall under the category called “green waste.” So, this is where you draw the line between green waste and other types of materials that are not recyclable. Non-recyclable items include plastic bags, bricks, and ceramic pots. Sorting your stuff is how you end up with two piles of garden waste — “green” and “general.”
GARDEN REUSE AND RECYCLE CENTRE
Some local councils and authorities provide a home collection scheme for all your garden waste. Alternatively, you can recycle garden waste at your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre. Just do a quick google search on “garden waste recycling centre near me” and you should be able to find a centre closest to your location. You will be provided with a small bin and charged a minimal fee. All your clippings will be taken away and composted on your behalf. However, the end compost will be enjoyed by somebody else.
COMPOSTING GREEN WASTE THROUGH A VICIOUS CYCLE
If you do not want to see your compost in your garden going to somebody else, then it’s time to explore the option of household composting all by yourself! Whether you have leftover kitchen waste such as vegetable peelings, food waste, or green waste such as leaves and plant materials — keep the compost in the garden and reuse it in order to maintain a nutrient-rich soil for all your future plantations.
Since green waste recycling is an eco-friendly method of managing garden waste, with a small investment in time and energy, you can enjoy a healthy garden or flower bed. Bring a compost bin to your garden, build a compost heap of all the organic green waste (like soft hedge clippings, old bedding plants, weeds, kitchen waste, etc.) and layer alternatively with soil or manure to create a healthy balance between ‘green’ waste and ‘brown’ waste. Cover the compost bin with a lid, leave it out for a considerable amount of time and you’ve got yourself a nutrient-dense and fibrous soil ready to be reused.
Note: As mentioned before, remember to not add general waste into the compost heap. It may mess with the process of composting.
You now have rich organic garden compost, which you can use to condition the soil when preparing new beds or putting in new plants. Recycling green waste by composting in your own home is the most cost-effective and environmentally responsible way to dispose of green waste.
WHAT TO DO WITH GARDEN SHREDDER WASTE?
Handfuls of twigs and leaves can easily be shredded by a garden shredder. Additionally, all this garden shredder waste can be used in composting as well. Mix it with other waste in the compost heap and carry on with the rest of the process as usual.
CAN YOU DISPOSE OF GARDEN WASTE IN A NORMAL BIN?
If you have decided not to compost your garden waste and prefer to do garden waste disposal, ensure you know the type of items to be thrown in the bin. If you’ve ever wondered where to dump grass clippings, plant cuttings, etc., then below are some DO’s and DONT’s when it comes to what goes into the organic waste bins, and what doesn’t:
DO’s:
- Small branches
- Cut flowers
- Leaves
- Grass cuttings
- Wood chippings
- Hedge trimmings
- Plant cuttings
- Weeds
DONT’s:
- Animal waste
- Soil
- Large branches
- Kitchen waste
- Paper
- Card
- Paper cuttings
- Clothing
- Stones
- Plastics
SKIP FOR GARDEN WASTE
If you are busy and need a quick-fix solution, you can opt for a skip. After checking with your local council, call to order a skip because it is a reliable garden rubbish removal method. You can also hire a skip from a waste management dealer.
All you need is to throw your waste into the skip or garden waste bin and then contact the best waste removal company in your locality to come and collect the skip. Try to go for the largest skip possible so the removal of garden waste can be accommodated in one shot.
CREATIVE RE-USE
Want to put on your artist hat and make use of garden waste in a creative way? You can reuse twigs and branches for household activities such as a barbeque, grilling, or DIY crafts. You can also sell or donate these items to those in need.
Additionally, you can buy garden chippers or shredders to recycle branches into useful materials at home. This is a shortcut to a clean garden and eliminates most waste in a timely manner.
PROFESSIONAL RUBBISH REMOVAL SERVICE
To make life easier with all types of rubbish (from building waste to plastic to green waste), you can always rely on a professional removal (or garden waste removal) company. Whether you are into DIY home decor, commercial construction, or just a weekend gardener, a rubbish removal company can take care of the totality of your needs. Reduce hassle and increase convenience by calling and booking a slot today!
To sum up, garden waste is an inevitable part of your gardening process — but you have a lot of options. You can check with your local council, order a skip, book with a garden rubbish collection company, or just compost it on your own. Nothing beats enjoying the greenery in a clean, dirt-free garden while sipping on a hot cup of tea!