Weeds a perennial problem
The warmer weather and rapid plant growth has encouraged many residents into their gardens. What to do with the resulting weeds, trimmings and lawn clippings is a perennial question.
Many people don’t realise that by putting organic waste (kitchen scraps and garden waste) in their black rubbish bag, it ends up at the landfill where it breaks down and produces leachate and harmful greenhouse gases that need to be contained and managed.
Home composting is a better option. It is nature’s way of recycling and the best and easiest way to recycle organic matter in order to reduce your rubbish. When added to the garden, composted material promotes soil fertility, moisture retention and encourages plant growth.
Alternatively there are collection services just for organic waste. The collector composts the garden waste and doesn’t send it to the landfill. A third option is to keep organic waste separate from other waste and drop it at one of the city’s refuse stations for a reduced fee.
A word of caution, however, about a compound called clopyralid. This is in products to control broadleaf weeds in lawns such as Clopyd 300, Versatill, Radiate, Turf Weed Control, Void and No Lawn Weeds. It remains active in lawn clippings for six months or more and can effect the growth of desirable plants even after composting. If these products have been applied to your lawn recently, the grass clippings are not suitable for composting.
Because of this, it is important to keep mown grass separate from other organic waste if you are taking it to a refuse station. Because of the risk of chemical contamination from some of these lawn sprays, grass clippings are composted separately and used for landfill rehabilitation.
The Council, looking at ways to reduce the amount of organic waste going to landfill, has been doing a trial kerbside organics collection. A city-wide kerbside organics collection is part of a proposal the Council is considering and will be consulting residents about.
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