Burlington Township Green Team Encourages Residents and Businesses to Leave Grass
Clippings in Place

by Richard M. Lynch, Ph.D.

Over the past few months, several Burlington Township residents and Township Officials have
been working to help Burlington Township become a Greener and Cleaner place to live and
work. The BT Green Team has accepted a challenge from Sustainable New Jersey to “go
green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term.” The
program describes several steps that BT can take toward meeting this goal, and the BT Green
Team is striving to meet the challenge.

One of the areas targeted by the program is waste minimization and recycling. Our
Township has one of the best recycling centers in the County, located on Lake Road. There,
Township residents can recycle everything from batteries, to plastics, metal, wood, tree
branches and leaves, and even computer components. We’ve been doing this well for years.
Thanks to our Town Public Works Department for a job well done!

One of the Sustainable Jersey targeted areas for improvement is in the area of grass clippings.

Did you Know?

Grass clippings contain up to 90% water, and if left in place and as much as 4%
Nitrogen, 0.5% Phosphorous, and 2% Potassium, which can reduce your need for
frequent watering and fertilizing of your lawn.

 

Grass clippings during summer and fall months comprise as much as 25-50% of the
waste volume going to landfills

 

Properly cut grass clippings left in place begin to decompose in soil in as little as 2
weeks and nourishes soil and grass which is growing

 

Many landfills around the U.S. have begun rejecting grass clippings

How Can You Get Involved?

1. Cut grass long, only removing the top 1/3 of the grass plant

2. Allow the clippings to settle onto the lawn

3. If grass clippings are too long to leave in place, consider collecting grass and mulching,
composting or incorporating clippings directly into the soil. Each of these practices is
good for your lawn, great for the environment, and preserves natural resources and ever
decreasing landfill space.

For more information on visit the EPA’s “Recycling Grass Clippings” factsheet at
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/01/00728.pdf

Sustainable Jersey http://www.sustainablejersey.com/about.php