Composting

If you have a small plot of ground, you can mulch -- or compost -- your leaves, weeds, grass clippings, twigs, and even some kitchen waste like vegetable peelings and egg shells. The result is a rich, nutritious material that your lawn and gardens will just love!

Properly done, a compost pile has no bad odor. It's just a mix of fresh green material like grass clippings and vegetable peels, along with brown materials like dried leaves and twigs. Layer it, add some water occasionally, and turn it with a pitch fork now and then... and you're all set!

You'll save money by creating your own nutritious mulch -- and you'll save again by not paying someone to dispose of the yard waste for you. Composting is also a wonderful option instead of burning, since burning causes air pollution and respiratory problems for many people. Composting brochures with all the details are available at the Township offices, or check out the following websites. The one with the asterisk (*) is the brochure we have on hand. (Please note that you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to access some of this information.)

Open Burning Information, Laws, and Alternatives:

   �http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_3668_4148-65250--CI,00.html

   �http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq-ess-caap-openburningguide_63367_7.pdf

   �http://www.michigan.gov/documents/bulletin3_9099_7.pdf

Michigan Compost Council:

   �http://www.michiganrecycles.org/MCC_mission.shtml

*Home Composting Brochure, "Reap a Heap of Benefits"

   �http://www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-wmd-swp-compostbroch.pdf

Yard Clippings and Composting – Information, links, and resources:

   �http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130_4192-12661--,00.html

Residential Recycling/Composting Information from DEQ:

   �http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130-14774--,00.html

   �http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130-70303--,00.html