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We all want to eliminate waste and move toward a sustainable way of life. There are eco-savvy ways of getting rid of yard, garden, and organic waste. It’s not a difficult task, and doing so will help to reduce the negative footprint we leave on the earth. Here are some ways of eliminating waste you might want to consider when doing a yard cleanup, and disposing of organic waste.

The Yard and Garden

Waste that can be found in your garden and around your yard includes branches, grass clippings, plant material, and any other things that grow in your yard. By saving this waste and turning it into compost, you can feed your soil rich nutrients that will in turn help it to grow lush greenery.

Composting at Home

If you’re able to compost items, you’re doing yourself and the earth a real favour. Recycled grass clippings, leaves, and other plant items can be thrown into a compost bin with veggie and fruit waste. When it’s all broken down, it can be added to the soil around plants to provide much-needed nutrients. It’s a win-win situation.

Leave It at the Curb

Most municipalities have curbside pickup for garden, yard, and organic waste. Check your region’s listings of when that happens. You will also be able to find out what they won’t take. For instance, many municipalities won’t take leaves, so it’s best to compost those. If you have an overabundance of this type of waste, call a waste management company for information on a waste management bin rental.

Composting Sites

Your municipality may have areas where you can bring organic waste, such as fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds, and basically anything that is not fatty or oily. Contact your city or town hall for a list of drop-off locations and to find out if there is any charge. A plus with these sites is that you can get ready-made compost!

Bag It up

If you put your yard and garden waste out for pickup, you will have to use proper compostable bags. Most municipalities want residents to use paper bags, which are readily available at hardware stores. For organic waste, residents can get a small green bin. They, too, will be picked up at the curb if you’re not composting.

If you have too much of this kind of waste to handle, it’s best to call for quotes on a waste management bin rental. They come in many sizes to accommodate your needs.

by Essential Disposal Services

One of the most relaxing and popular hobbies is gardening. Digging in the soil, planting something, and watching it grow gives many people a sense of pride and accomplishment. Fledgling and seasoned gardeners alike should keep in mind some do’s and don’ts when it comes to planting and tending their gardens. The tips below will make sure your garden flowers all season long.

The Do’s

Soil Prep
This step is especially important if it’s your first foray into gardening. The soil needs to be prepared to accept new flowers or shrubs. Decide how large an area you’d like for the garden and then measure, dig up any sod, and fertilize the soil in the areas you chose. If you’re not sure what you’d like to plant, what would look nice with what, or what kind of stone or gravel to use, garden suppliers will steer you in the right direction.
Know the pH Balance of the Soil

Knowing the pH levels in the soil will help you plant the correct plants. For instance, bulbs should have a 6-7 pH balance or they will die. Soil testing kits can be purchased at nurseries. If the soil needs adjusting, minerals like sulfur or limestone can be added.
Mulch

Mulch will help keep the temperature of plant roots constant and keep moisture around them. When it breaks down, it adds nutrients to the soil.
Use a Lot of Water

Plants love water when they’re first put into the ground. They should get about an inch a week to keep the soil moist. Completely saturating the soil will ensure water gets to the roots.

Don’ts

Plant Flowering Bulbs in the Wrong Area
Read the directions for flowering bulbs before planting. Some will need shade, while others prefer sun. Planting them in the wrong area may mean they will not thrive.
Use Herbicides
Herbicides prevent growth. Yes, they stop weeds, but flowers might suffer as well. At least give the plants a chance to grow.
Work in Wet Soil
Let the soil dry out. Messing with wet soil won’t help the structure of the garden.
Work Soil Too Much
Trying to break the soil down into small chunks is not the way to go. Soil comes in all different sizes to help keep nutrients and water feeding the plants. If you have overworked the soil, add things like compost or fertilizer.

by Essential Disposal Services

If you have been purging your surroundings of items you no longer have any use for, including things that have been mounting up in outdoor areas, chances are you’ve come across some scrap metal pieces you might not know what to do with.

The burgeoning popularity of scrap metal collection is fuelled by environmental issues and the waste policies of various regions. There are several reasons why scrap metal should be recycled—the chief way to effectively dispose of it.

Recycling:

Conserves natural resources. Iron ore is one of this country’s most abundant natural resources. However, its extraction and refinement weighs heavily on the environment. Scrap metal recycling cuts down on the environmental footprint we leave due to iron ore mining.
Keeps items out of landfills. These items can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater that are hazardous for humans and animals alike. Scrap metals also have a snail-like rate of decomposition.
Supports local economies. Recycling supports recycling operators, processing companies and local industry.

Sell It

There are many companies that will come and haul away your scrap metal, leaving you with some cash in your pocket. In turn, you’re helping a local business and benefiting the environment. It’s a win-win situation. Below are some tips to get the best return for your scrap metal.

Make sure it’s clean. If it’s just been sitting around outside, it could be covered with bacteria or contaminants. If the metal is coated with oils or fluids, leave the cleaning to the pros, who will make sure nothing harmful gets into the environment in a way it might do harm.
Separate metals. Scrap metal should be separated into non-ferrous and ferrous piles. There should be piles for aluminum, copper, steel, etc. It makes everything easier to identify for pick-up.
Consider self-delivery. If you have the means to safely bring your scrap metal to scrap metal yards, do so. It will save you money.

Safety First

There are a few things you should have on hand to recycle scrap metal properly and safely.

A magnet. It will help identify ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
A hammer and screwdriver. Some things may require the removal of plastic. Doing this yourself makes the recycling process easier.
Gloves. They are essential to wear when handling and separating scrap metal.
Rope. If you’re hauling scrap metal yourself, it should be secured on your vehicle with ropes.

by Essential Disposal Services

There may come a time when you look around at your surroundings and think, “this place is just too big.” Whether you’re an empty nester or looking to move from a large condo to a smaller one, there are some things you should do when considering downsizing.

What Do You Really Love?

Making a list of everything you love and can’t live without is a good place to start. You might find you have things that have either outlived their purpose or that are dated and tired. If there are more of these items than you thought, you may want to look into disposal bin rental to get rid of everything in one fell swoop!

Start Months Before

Once you’ve decided to look for smaller digs, give yourself about three months before the actual move to look through your stuff and start making a dent in it.

Compare the New to the Old

To get an idea of how it will feel to live in a smaller space, you could compare rooms. If your new living room is about the size of your bedroom now, have a good look. Maybe you won’t be able to fit all your current furniture into your new living room. But what you can do is figure out what will fit and what to take, what to sell, what to donate to charity and what to use that disposal bin for!

Use the Three R’s

Reduce, recycle or reuse. Many things won’t have to be tossed, but can be recycled, upcycled or repurposed. Make sure you can’t recycle or reuse before you reduce. By finding a good use for most things, you’re being environmentally responsible.

Become Friendly with Labels

Storage containers can be labeled “keep,” “sell” and “donate.” If you’re like most average downsizers, plan on keeping about one-third to half of your things.

Going Once, Going Twice … Sold!

Hiring an auction service to sell your high end belongings may get you the best price for them even after paying the auctioneer a commission. You will be able to find reputable antique dealers or auctioneers who will come to your home and have a look at what you have. They may even buy some items outright.

Colour Code Boxes When Packing

Save yourself some grief and extra work by allotting a colour for every room and marking boxes that contain things for that room with the same colour sticker.

by Essential Disposal Services

Every human being leaves a carbon footprint on the earth. There are many things we could do in our own homes to lessen the environmental impact of waste by reducing it greatly. A dumpster rental service will be able to help you if you have a lot of waste to get rid of. In the meantime, here are some tips you may want to consider to reduce waste at home.

Cloth Diapers
If you have a baby or a toddler, using cloth diapers will keep all those disposable diapers out of landfill sites.
Buy in Bulk
Get yourself a membership to a store like Costco and buy some non-perishables in large quantities.
Be a Mindful Shopper
Check labels and see what kinds of packaging products come in. Products using recycled packaging or those with minimal packaging are best.
Compost
Most kitchen waste can be composted. Things like non-greasy table scraps, coffee grounds, tea leaves and eggshells compost nicely and will make the plants in your garden very happy.
Create Your Own Cleaning Supplies
There are many recipes online to make your own cleaning solutions. They use natural products like vinegar and baking soda. They are friendly to you, your pets and the environment.
Eat Whole Foods
Besides being good for you, whole foods generally come with little to no packaging. Every little change helps.
Buy Reusable Shopping Bags
Most stores are charging for plastic shopping bags these days, so by bringing your own cloth bag, you’re not only helping to cut down on waste, but saving yourself a few dollars.
Buy Used
Vintage items are currently very fashionable. Check out your local thrift stores to see what treasures you can find. These shops are particularly great for children’s items and toys.
If It’s Broken, Try to Fix It
We live in a society where everything is viewed as being disposable. If it breaks, we usually throw it away and buy another. Instead, try fixing it first. You might be amazed at what you can do and you will feel very proud of yourself. For all those items that can’t be fixed, call a dumpster rental service for bin rental prices and do a really good clean-up!
Travel with Your Own Mug
If you buy your morning coffee, have them fill up your own mug instead of getting a paper one. And when you’re in a coffee shop, ask for a real mug.

Older Posts

Yard, Garden, And Organic Waste Disposal Tips

8 Gardening Do’s And Don’ts

How To Effectively Dispose Of Scrap Metal

Tips For Downsizing Your Home

Top 10 Ways To Reduce Waste At Home

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