Desperate For Space, Delaware Passes Yard Waste Ban
The Delaware Solid Waste Authority says yard waste makes up more than 16 percent of the state's residential waste. Photo: Flickr/smohundro
The state of Delaware has passed a law banning yard waste from its Sandtown landfill in a move to conserve space, according to the Delaware News Journal. This means composting will soon be the only option for yard waste disposal in the state.
Because Delaware only has three landfills, it is in a different position to impose a ban than larger states. Instead of a statewide ban, restrictions happened one landfill at a time.
The first ban took effect more than two years ago at New Castle County’s Cherry Island Landfill. Yard waste is still accepted at this facility, but it must be separated from other waste and gets composted instead.
According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, a primary reason for the bans is that Delaware ended up paying twice for any mulch and soil conditioners.
The state had to pay tipping fees to dispose of the material and has paid to cart in out-of-state garden products made from compost materials that Delaware could have generated itself.
The Delaware Solid Waste Authority says yard waste makes up more than 16 percent of the state’s residential waste. This material is also accepted for composting through the state’s curbside recycling program, but residents must purchase a sticker for their cart to be picked up in a given week.
Delaware is not the only state that has banned yard waste from landfills. North Carolina includes yard waste as one of the many materials that must be diverted to save space.
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