News
Taking care of your lawn -- without violating local ordinances
May 3, 2005 by Cail Hammons
Many residents may be breaking law and harming streams with disposal of grass clippings
Grass cutting season is here, but many Athens-Clarke residents may not know the best way to dispose of their grass clippings.
Did you know that it is illegal to blow grass clippings into the street?
Littering county roads or side walks with clippings is in violation of a local ordinance and could result in a fine. Clippings that are sent into the street often stay there until the next rain comes. Rain washes the clippings into the storm drainage system where they can cause clogs or other drainage problems.
Water that flows into storm drains eventually empties into a nearby river or stream. Grass clippings washed into our waterways can carry pollutants like herbicides or pesticides into the stream. Even if no chemicals are used on a lawn, grass clippings use oxygen from the stream during the decay process. This process upsets the natural balance of the water ecosystem and can make it hard for wildlife to survive.
One way to help our streams and have a healthy lawn at the same time is to practice grasscycling. Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. Experts recommend cutting no more than one third of the length of the grass blade when you mow. Shorter clippings fall back into the surrounding grass and return nutrients to the soil as they decompose. Leaving clippings on the lawn also reduces water loss and the need for fertilizer.
If you would rather remove clippings from your lawn, Athens-Clarke County’s leaf and limb service picks up grass clippings along with other yard waste. The clippings must be in a biodegradable bag and placed at the curb no earlier than ten days before the scheduled pick up week for your neighborhood. To hear a leaf and limb pick up schedule, call (706) 613-3501.
To learn more about environmentally friendly ways to care for your lawn, view the environmental protection agency’s (EPA) Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment guide online.
To receive a printed copy, call the Athens-Clarke transportation and public works department at (706) 613-3440.
To report a grass clipping violation, contact the ACC community protection division at (706) 613-3790.
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Media Contact:
Cail Hammons (706) 613-3440 ext. 384
Tagged: lawn care, water ecosystem, grass clipping disposal, conservation
