Composting Leaves and Yardwaste

Leaves, grass clippings, branches and trimmings account for nearly 16 percent of all residential waste from Johnson County.

It is anticipated that within the next couple of years, the landfilling of yardwaste will no longer be permitted and these materials will need to be managed on the individual property or by others at an additional cost to the homeowner.

What should you do? Consider:

• Mulch mowing where you recycle grass trimmings by letting them fall back to the turf.
• Mulching and managing your leaves by mowing over the leaves and letting them stay on the grass, letting the nutrients seep back into the ground.
• Composting grass clippings and leaves to produce "humus," which is a lot like rich topsoil, in your backyard.
  • To compost at home, you will need wood pallets, cement blocks or galvanized wire to create a round or square bin. If you don't feel crafty, many garden centers sell manufactured bins that will fit your landscape and budget.

It is against city ordinance to dump, rake or blow your leaves into the storm drainage system or onto a city street. Overland Park does not provide leaf removal or pick up and prohibits the burning of leaves anywhere within the city. Anyone burning leaves is subject to a ticket and a subsequent fine.