Hoosiers encouraged to compost leaves for better environment

Comet staff report

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) encourages Hoosiers to break out their rakes this autumn instead of lighter fluid and matches to deal with fallen leaves. While the smell of burning leaves may bring back fond memories, it is better for the environment bag leaves and yard debris.

Burning five pounds of leaves creates about one pound of debris and emissions that can affect air, land and water quality. Burning wet or damp twigs and leaves creates even more emissions.

Instead of open burning, Hoosiers can use these tips for managing fallen leaves: * Mix leaves into a compost

Composted leaves produce a rich, fertile humus that can enrich flowerbeds and gardens.

* Rake leaves to the curb or bag them for pickup. Check with your county, city or town about curbside leaf pickup rules and dates. If this service is not offered, bag leaves for easy dropoff at a community composting facility.

yard with a lawnmower. This method saves time, returns nutrients to your lawn and disposes of the leaves in one easy step.

* Use a rake instead of a leaf blower to gather leaves into piles. Besides reducing ozone-forming emissions that come from small, gasoline-powered tools, raking

provides low-impact exercise.

Some communities have openburning

Every to compost, mulch or pile to break them down naturally. * Mulch the leaves in your or leaf-burning bans, and

violating those rules can result in legal action or fines. While IDEM does not advise open burning, citizens should check with their local government, county health department or local fire department officials before burning leaves or other yard waste.

To learn more about the proper disposal of leaves and yard waste, visit U.S. EPA's Web site

at http://www.epa.gov/ epaoswer/non-hw/organics/ydbasic. htm. For information about local programs that may exist for managing leaves and yard waste, contact your local solid waste management district. For a map of local solid waste management districts and contact information, visit http://www.IN.gov/recycle/topics/s wmd/map.html.