Environmental Recycling Tips

Residents can improve the quality of our environment by putting into practice “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” and by participating in these Monroe County Solid Waste Management programs:

• Grasscycling
  Yard waste is banned from Monroe County landfills. Leave grass clippings on the lawn after each mowing. This helps fertilize your lawn and reduces the yard waste going into our landfills.
• Composting
  Turning organic waste into a nutrient-rich soil supplement for your garden. The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County (585 461-1000) has detailed information on this and other environmental topics.
• Household Hazardous Waste
  Dispose of your Household Hazardous Waste materials properly and free of charge. Call 585 753-7600 option #3 for details.
• Junk Mail Reduction
  Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by calling the following toll-free number: 1-888-567-8688.
• Volunteering
  Help keep our community clean by sharing your knowledge with others. Learn more about these programs as well as tour and presentation availability by calling 585 753-7646.

What is Grasscycling?

Grasscycling means leaving grass clippings on your lawn after each mowing. It not only enriches your lawn with important nutrients, but also reduces demand on expensive landfills. Grasscycling is the next voluntary step in Monroe County’s recycling efforts.

Just Mow It!

• It’s Easy
• It’s Economical
• It’s Environmentally Sound

Why Grasscycling?

It’s Easy:

• Less work
• More free time

It’s Economical:

• Save money on fertilizer
• Save money on lawn bags
• Save money normally spent on the disposal of grass and landfills

It’s Environmentally Sound:

• A greener, healthier lawn without thatch buildup
• Longer life for our landfills

How to Grasscycle

• Just leave clippings on your lawn after mowing or add them to your compost pile
• Cut only the top 1/3 of your grass at each mowing
• Cut your grass when it’s dry
• Keep your mower blade sharp

Recycle Grass Don’t Bag It! Call the Monroe County Cornell Cooperative Extension Garden Helpline at 585 473-5335.

Composting

Composting is nature’s way of breaking down plant materials. It’s a simple, useful way to reuse your leaves, grass, vegetable and fruit scraps.

Composting:

• saves landfill space
• conserves water
• reduces the need for fertilizers by returning nutrients to the soil
• helps you grow healthier plants

Easy Composting

You don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to make your own compost. All you need is:

• a convenient, out-of-the-way area.
• 2-3 parts brown materials (leaves, small twigs, straw).
• 1 part green materials (grass, dead plants, fruit and vegetable scraps*).
• water to keep the compost pile as moist as a wrung out sponge.
• air to allow your compost pile to breathe. Just mix the pile every couple of weeks.

An “active” pile can produce valuable compost in less than one year.

*Meats, fats, salad dressing, pet wastes and bones should not be added to a compost pile.

Troubleshooting Guide

Homeowners who cannot compost their leaves should contact their waste hauler or municipality for additional instructions.