CAPE GIRARDEANS SENDING LESS YARD WASTE TO AREA LANDFILLS

A 3-year-old state mandate that prohibits yard waste from entering landfills offers options Cape Girardeans appear to be aware of.

A telling sign that city residents are complying with the yard-waste mandate is the diminished amount found in trash. Cape Girardeau Environmental Services Coordinator Mary Ellen Klein said less yard waste is showing up in trash bags and receptacles today than when the mandate was handed down in 1991.

Residents can purchase bags for yard waste and take them to the recycling center, have the yard waste picked up, or take advantage of a compost program.

If yard waste is found in trash bound for landfills, the city tags it and leaves it behind to remind people it must be recycled or disposed of by way of composting. The city imposes a fine for trash that is not disposed of in proper fashion. Although the severity of the fine is determined by a judge, it usually ranges from $100 to $125.

A random survey of 20 Cape Girardeau residents revealed that most either have yard waste picked up on Wednesdays or have someone take it to the recycling center in Cape Girardeau. Only two said they use composting as a way to dispose of their yard waste.

A composting display near the rose garden at Capaha Park shows various ways to compost in a yard. "Education is important when it comes to recycling solid waste because people need to know about all the options," said Klein.

Klein said the longer the quest continues for alternate ways to reduce the volume of trash the more the public will become exposed to the problem of a lack of landfill space.

All existing landfills will be filled in less than 10 years, and new landfills are not being developed. Since yard waste makes up an average of 18 percent of all garbage -- second only to paper products, at 41 percent -- people are finding alternate ways to dispose of yard waste.

If they elect to have yard waste hauled away on Wednesday, after making an appointment, they will have to pay for the privilege. Each bag, which holds 35 gallon, costs $6.50 and can be purchased at Schnucks or Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau. Bags can be deposited at the Cape Recycling Center at 120 N. Broadview.

Composting has several advantages: The organic material can be used in gardens to improve soil and growing conditions and it can be used to beautify yards.

Some of the benefits of turning compost into the soil:

-- Loosens heavy clay soils.

-- Aerates the rooting zone.

-- Improves water and nutrient holding capacity.

-- Improves soil conditions for earthworms and other microbes.

-- Provides nutrients for plant growth.

Benefits of mulching with compost include:

-- Reduces moisture loss from soil surface.

-- Helps control weeds.

-- Prevents soil temperatures from getting too hot or too cold.

-- Protects against soil erosion on sloped hills.

-- Prevents soil surface from crusting over and becoming hard.

Compost can be done with or without support such as fencing. Piles can be formed without walls. This typically takes longer to decompose and requires more space, but it is just as effective as composting in a bin.

Building a pile so that it will break down takes some mixing or layering of materials containing carbon and nitrogen. The compost food chain is activated by having a balanced mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials in the pile. As the microbes eat the organic debris, they generate heat in the pile.

A recipe for the first layer is 3-to-4 inches of chopped brush or coarse material like straw on top of the soil to allow for air circulation around the base of the pile.

A 6-to-8-inch layer of brown leaves, dried plant material, sawdust or straw can comprise the brown or second layer. An optional 1-inch soil layer or good compost will settle the brown layer down, add moisture and increase the number of microorganisms in the heap.

A 2-to-3-inch layer of green plant material like grass clippings, tops of weeds or vegetable greens can make up the next layer. These materials add nitrogen to stimulate activity by microorganisms.

Follow the green layer with a brown layer and optional soil layer until the pile is as high as it will support itself or until the bin is full.

Some kitchen waste is OK. Coffee grounds, egg shells, fruit rind, tea bags and vegetable scraps are also good for composting. Fish, meat, dairy products or fat are not good for composting.

Grass clippings should not be bagged. Rather, spread out the clumps. Contrary to popular belief, this will not cause thatch. Clippings can be gathered and used directly as mulch around flowers and vegetables.