The Yard Spot

Garden incinerators, used for burning yard waste, are normally made with galvanized steel and resemble a garbage can with holes in the bottom. A small garden incinerator is ideal for home use, as it’s transportable and won’t take up too much yard space. A large garden incinerator is usually intended for commercial use, but might be appropriate depending on the amount of yard waste you intend to burn. It’s easy to find a cheap garden incinerator with prices ranging from $100 to $500. Their use is quite controversial and, in many areas, banned. If you live in an area that’s classed as a smokeless zone, you won’t be able to use an incinerator. Even if the practice is allowed, we strongly encourage you to use other options for ridding your yard of waste. While these devices make the job easier and faster, burning waste releases harmful toxins into the air. This is bad for the environment and reduces air quality. Protecting the environment should be priority number one; here are some environmentally safe alternatives to using a garden incinerator.

Compost all the organic material. This option will actually benefit the environment and your garden. By composting organic material you’re re-depositing nutrients into the soil, making it ideal for planting. Designate an area of your yard for the composting heap; ideally underneath a tree as the shade will keep your heap moist. You can contain the heap with fencing or lumber to make it more aesthetically pleasing. Alternatively, you could purchase composting bins to make the job even easier. The area should be at least 5 feet by 5 feet and 5 feet high in the middle. Anything smaller will take too long to decompose and become compost. Most types of organic yard waste can be put into your composting heap. Layer and mix the materials. And be sure to keep it aerated. This is a very basic overview of composting but there are many comprehensive guides online for creating a successful compost.

Recycle all of the non-organic material. Recycling depots will take a huge variety of materials now. Plastic, glass, metal and paper can all be recycled. To simplify the process, set up some marked bins for sorting different types of materials. Once you get into the habit of recycling it becomes second nature and isn’t as daunting as it may seem at first.

If you absolutely must burn your yard waste, please do it as responsibly as possible. Only burn organic materials such as leaves and sticks. Use your incinerator on windless days to avoid the spread of smoke. This can be harmful to people with breathing problems. Keep your safety in mind and never place explosive or highly combustible items into the incinerator.

Be safe, have fun maintaining your yard and, as always, happy composting and recycling!