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Department of Ecology News Release - March 19, 2009
09-067
YAKIMA – Communities and businesses across Washington are proving there are many viable ways to manage yard waste, tree trimmings and land-clearing debris without burning, and at the same time protect air quality and human health. (See listings below)
Yard-waste collection programs and events help lessen smoke pollution in populated areas. At-home yard management projects, such as composting and chipping, result in valuable soil amendments and ground covers. Large-scale composting operations are becoming more common; many accept yard waste and land-clearing debris. Much like cigarettes, the smoke from burning leaves, grass, brush, and tree needles can cause asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and lung cancer. Children, the elderly and those with breathing problems are most harmed by poor air quality. Yard waste fires also threaten property and drain fire department resources responding to fires when they get out of hand.
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has developed a web-based educational tool kit to help people learn more about how they can manage yard waste, tree trimmings and land-clearing debris. It’s called: “Be the Difference, Breathe the Difference.”
The web pages provide information on:
Go to www.ecy.wa.gov/BreatheTheDifference for more information.
In January 2008, Ecology provided nearly $2.4 million in Alternatives-to-Burning grants for 23 projects across the state. In November 2008, Ecology issued an additional $630,000 in grants specifically for developing projects to manage yard waste and land-clearing debris.
The grants are made possible by a voter-approved initiative for reducing toxic threats in Washington state.
Under the latest grants, Coulee Dam-area mayors are working to build a regional compost facility at the Delano Landfill. Electric City, Grand Coulee and the towns of Coulee Dam and Elmer City will benefit. Additionally, they are purchasing a leaf loader and mulcher to expand community clean-up events.
Stevens County purchased a chipper and front-end loader to hold community yard waste collection and chipper events. Additionally, the county will conduct workshops on home/backyard composting. Attendees will receive a compost bin.
Yakima County is implementing a county-wide organics collection, recycling, and composting program as an alternative to burning. This includes purchasing and distributing compost bins at educational events and providing bio-degradable composting bags for a fall collection program in the city of Yakima. A pilot composting project is also planned for the city of Tieton.
Kittitas County is constructing a compost facility that will accept residential yard waste countywide. Once complete, yard waste collection events will be held and the compost marketed and distributed.
Entiat is creating a city-wide compost and chipping facility, combining wood debris with other organics and biosolids. The finished compost will be used to help restore watershed habitat.
Other successful yard waste management programs have been operating for many years around the state providing citizens with alternatives to burning.
Franklin County provides chipping services each fall and spring in the cities of Mesa, Kahlotus, Connell and Pasco. Free chips are made available to residents. The cities of Chewelah and Colfax have similar programs.
Stevens County responded to the issue of fire danger when the local fire district proactively launched chipping events to curb yard waste fires.
Composting programs are available in many smaller cities including Dryden, Dayton, Port Angeles, Royal City, Palouse, Port Townsend, Cheney, Oakesdale and Garfield. Ritzville offers yard waste collection containers. Other counties that operate composting facilities include Cowlitz County and Walla Walla County.
Over the years, Ecology has published and broadcast public service announcements in English and Spanish in Central and Eastern Washington. Most recently, the agency has adopted “Be the Difference, Breathe the Difference” as the slogan for its educational effort.
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Media Contact:
Kathy Davis, 360-407-6149;
kada461@ecy.wa.gov
Seth Preston, 360-407-6848;
spre461@ecy.wa.gov
Joye Redfield-Wilder, 509-575-2610;
jred461@ecy.wa.gov
Jani Gilbert, 509-329-3495;
jagi461@ecy.wa.gov
Cathy Cochrane, 509-329-3433;
ccoc461@ecy.wa.gov
Resources
Information on yard waste recycling/composting in your area:
www.ecy.wa.gov/BreatheTheDifference
Natural Yard Care information, in English and Spanish
www.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/organics.html
WSU Extension Stewardship Gardening information
http://gardening.wsu.edu/stewardship/index.htm
Grant projects at:
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/grants/ATBListFS.pdf
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
