Every year, over 20,000 cubic yards of leaves are composted at the Monroe County / Waste Management ecopark. Composting is a natural process that uses decomposition to turn organic material, such as leaves, into a rich, dark soil that is coveted by gardeners.
This earth-friendly end product – compost – is available for free to Monroe County residents only at the Monroe County / Waste Management ecopark during normal operating hours (no businesses or professional landscapers).
Yard waste takes up valuable space in local landfills, as evidenced by a 2010 study of items disposed by Monroe County residents. That investigation revealed that 17 percent of local waste was comprised of leaf and grass clippings and tree and garden debris that could have been recycled or composted. Uncontaminated yard waste should never be sent to landfills and should not be placed in curbside recycling bins.
When yard waste is composted and used as a soil amendment, it promotes erosion control and closes the loop by avoiding the loss of valuable organic resources. Supplementing of soils with compost also increases water holding capacity and reduces the need for watering and fertilizers.
Compost is available at the Monroe County ecopark during normal business hours: Wednesday from 1 to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The ecopark is located at 10 Avion Drive in the town of Chili. Compost is also available seasonally at the Town of Ogden Highway Department, 2432 South Union Street, Spencerport. Residents should provide their own containers and shovel.
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