Township of Highland issued the following announcement on Oct 28.
Last day for Yard Waste/Compost in Highland Twp
Friday December 17th will be the last day for yard waste/compost pickup. Yard waste/Compost will resume on April 1, 2022.
Here are a few ways to deal with the fallen leaves in your own backyard:
‘Leaf’ them be
What’s the easiest way to deal with fallen leaves? Just leave them alone – they’ll benefit wildlife and save you time and energy. If you’re worried about getting the stink eye from neighbors, you can assure them that the leaf layer is a critical part of the ecosystem. Salamanders, chipmunks, wood frogs, box turtles, toads, insects and other wildlife live in the leaf layer of the forest. Many important pollinators like moths and butterflies overwinter in fallen leaves.
If you’d like to move fallen leaves off your lawn, you can rake them into garden beds (free mulch!) where they will insulate perennials and keep soil in place during storms. Alternately, shred them with a lawn mower and let them become natural fertilizer for the yard.
Make garden gold
Another way to take care of fallen leaves is to collect them in a compost bin and let nature do the rest. They’ll break down into rich soil that plants love. If you have the space, you can also rake them directly into a vegetable patch and till them under in the spring.
A guide published by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, “Home composting: Reap a heap of benefits” https://bit.ly/3jHHZWY describes how to build and maintain a compost bin.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up