Hurricane Irene has come and gone, but strong winds and heavy rainfall left significant property damage in the wake of the storm. If you’re one of many East Coasters facing a yard full of storm debris, there is plenty you can do to clean up the mess the eco-friendly way.
Many towns and cities are offering curbside collection or open-call recycling days for storm debris (check your municipality’s website to see if this is offered in your area). But if your locality hasn’t made arrangements for recycling, that doesn’t mean all that junk in your yard has to wind up in a landfill. Check out our recycling solutions for five common types of storm debris, and you’ll soon be saying “Irene, who?”
1. Tree branches and yard waste
Stock Photo
Downed tree branches are the most common debris problems after a storm. But luckily for you, they’re also the easiest to recycle.
If your area offers curbside collection for yard waste, you can usually toss all fallen tree limbs and uprooted plants into the bin. You may need to cut larger limbs down into smaller pieces (check municipality regulations to be sure).
Yard waste is also perfect fuel for your compost pile. But if you don’t have a pile and curbside isn’t an option, you can still find a new home for fallen flora. Give your yard waste to a neighbor with a compost pile or donate it to a local school or community garden. Your trash could be treasure for a garden-grower in your area.
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