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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Three Ways to Repurpose Yard Waste to Prevent Water Pollution
- DIY Guide to Grasscycling, Mulching, and Composting in the Fall
- City of Lincoln Leaf Collection Program
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On Repurposing Yard Waste to Prevent Water Pollution
The leaves are beginning to turn golden and slowly twirl to the ground. However, this delightful seasonal event can also turn into a major source of vegetative debris that can enter the local waterways this time of year. During the fall, yard waste can make up to 50% of the total waste that is generated, an increase of nearly 30% this time of year.
Citizens of the City of Lincoln can be an immense help in protecting our local waterways. By grasscycling, composting, and/or mulching yard waste, you can:
- Save time on your yard work;
- Prevent the clogging and flooding of storm drains;
- Return valuable nutrients to the soil; and
- Prevent yard waste runoff from entering our waterways.
You can read more about grasscycling, composting, and mulching below.
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DIY Guide to Grasscycling, Composting, and Mulching in the Fall
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What is Grasscycling?
There is a simple way to have a greener, healthier lawn without depending on so much fertilizer. How? Grasscycling! Grasscycling simply means leaving the freshly cut grass in the lawn to let decomposition take its natural course, which allows critical nutrients to remain in the soil. Here are some best practices to ensure a healthy grasscycling habit:
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What is Composting?
Compost acts like a rich, nourishing blanket of organic matter to your plants. For potted plants and garden soils, compost holds nutrients in the soil by creating a humus level of soil. For clay soils, compost improves water infiltration and drainage. For sandy soils, compost can help to absorb and retain water. In addition, as compost decomposes, it slowly releases nutrients to the plants.
Here are some best practices to ensure a healthy composting habit:
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What is Mulch?
You can also collect excess grass clippings and foliage to spread a thin, ½ -1in layer around annual and perennial plants. This is called mulching and also helps to return nutrients back to the plants.
In fact, mulching can help:
- Reduce weeds;
- Maintain moisture and temperature levels;
- Prevent excess evaporation;
- Prevent soil erosion; and
- Add nutrients back into the soil.
This means that those fallen golden leaves can be used as an attractive layer of mulch around your plants.
But if the amount of leaves you receive is just too overwhelming, then the City of Lincoln has a solution for you. Keep reading to learn more.
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The City of Lincoln’s Leaf Collection Program
The City of Lincoln’s Leaf Collection Program runs from November 1 through December 30. Residents in the highlighted areas of the map below will receive leaf collection services on the indicated days during this time period. Please observe the following guidelines:
- Rake leaves into a neat pile in the street, making sure to keep gutters and storm drains clear.
- Please use your green waste cans to dispose of leaves before and after the collection period. Leaf trucks will only perform collection between November 1 and December 30.
- Leaves piled on lawns will not be picked up. Please no branches or other foreign debris (such as cinder blocks, dirt, or other non-leaf matter).
- Leaves not placed out by the required time may not be serviced until the following week.
- Leaves that have a vehicle parked on top of them will not be picked up.
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Residents located outside of the Leaf Pickup Program area may utilize their green waste can for leaf pickup service.
Red Shaded Area: Leaf pickup service for residences located within the RED shaded area will occur on Monday and/or Tuesday of each week during the Leaf Pickup Service period. Please have leaves out by 6:00 AM on Monday for service
Blue Shaded Area: Leaf pickup service for residences located within the BLUE shaded area will occur on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of each week during the Leaf Pickup Service period. Please have leaves out by 6:00 AM on Wednesday to allow for service.
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Remember—Clean Water Starts With You!
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