Soft Yard Waste Collection/Backyard Composting
SOFT YARD WASTE CURBSIDE COLLECTION WILL RESUME IN APRIL
The Division of Public Works, Solid Waste Department has announced that the seasonal curbside pickup of Soft Yard Wastes will resume starting the week of April 9.
The weekly pickup of leaves, grass clippings and pine needles will take place on the same day as trash. Soft yard wastes must be put into either paper compost bags or 32-gallon barrels. Bags and barrels must be at curbside by 6:45 am on trash collection day, and must be separated from the trash carts by at least 3 feet, or placed on the other side of the driveway. Plastic bags may NOT be used for Soft Yard Wastes. Please note that brush is picked up on an appointment basis and may not be mixed with Soft Yard Wastes.
As a reminder Nashua residents may always bring Soft Yard Wastes or brush directly to the Nashua Recycling Center at the Four Hills Landfill, 840 West Hollis Street, during normal operating hours, 8 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. A valid residential permit is required to use the facility.
State law requires that Soft Yard Wastes NEVER be disposed of in the trash.
BACKYARD COMPOSTING
Approximately 25% of household waste are yard trimmings and kitchen scraps.
Backyard Composting allows residents to handle Soft Yard Wastes without the need for special bags or extra barrels. Food wastes can also be put into a backyard compost bin, along with the leaves, grass clippings and pine needles. The very useful soil amendment that is produced in the process can be added to gardens, lawns and shrubs to help retain moisture in the soil and promote growth.
Grass-cycling is a way of mowing grass that helps to cut down on the handling of clippings while providing essential nutrients to the soil. Just cut the top third of the blade and leave the clippings in place. Grass-cycling eliminates raking, but does not cause thatch buildup.
A brochure on Backyard Composting is available for viewing / downloading. It is in Adobe PDF format and each page is a separate file:
Backyard Composting Page 1 (246KB)
Backyard Composting Page 2 (495KB)
Backyard Composting Page 3 (279KB)
Backyard Composting Page 4 (279KB)
Backyard Composting Page 5 (270KB)
Backyard Composting Page 6 (213KB)