THE TOWN OF WAYNESVILLE LANDFILL - The Town of Waynesville operates a landfill for the disposal of yard waste picked up by Town Personnel inside the corporate limits. It is important to remember that residential garbage (including discarded flower pots or fertilizer bags) should not be mixed with bagged yard waste. Residential garbage is picked up by another truck and taken to another location.

FREE MULCH AND LEAVES - As a courtesy to its residents, the Town provides free mulch for pickup in the East Street Park at the end of Happy Hollow Access (located off of East Street). Larger loads of mulch can be delivered to your home, depending on your location, by calling the Streets and Sanitation Department at 456-3706. Leaves will be available for pickup beginning this Fall.

COMPOSTING - Are you interested in recycling your yard and kitchen wastes and reducing the volume of garbage sent to landfills for disposal? You may want to consider composting. The Haywood County Extension Office offers composting demonstrations. Informational material is available by calling the Extension Office at 456-3575. Information is also available on the web at www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/bulletin.html and click on clippings.

RECYCLE GRASS CLIPPINGS - When lawns are properly mowed, the grass clippings filter down to the soil and decompose rapidly, usually within a few weeks. During the breakdown process, the clippings feed soil organisms, recycle plant nutrients, and contribute organic matter to the soil. As a result, water is conserved and less fertilizer is needed.

You will need to avoid mowing when the grass is wet as this produces clumps that smother the lawn and clog the mower. Your mower should be set to a height of 1 to 3 inches depending on what type grass you have. Make sure your mower is in good working condition and has a sharp blade. Mulching mowers may be better than traditional mowers for those who cannot mow on a regular basis. For more information try www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/pubs/managementgs592.html.