News Release No. 373

AUTUMN POSES YARD WASTE DISPOSAL CHALLENGE

Volume 32-373

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 9, 2004 - The crunch of crisp leaves underfoot and gutters to clean at the roofline are signals of autumn. Unfortunately, it also presents a problem: what to do with all those leaves? Yard waste is banned from Missouri landfills, so bagging and trashing those leaves is not an option.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources would like to encourage those with yard waste, leaves and grass clippings to first consider composting at home or at a local composting site. The department has information about composting available on the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov/alpd/swmp/composting/compost1.htm. You also can learn how to build a composting bin system. For building directions visit www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/pub214.pdf.

If you live in an area with no yard waste collection services you may consider turning to open burning. Residents should contact their local governments for information on open burning regulations in their communities. Some communities forbid open burning of yard waste because it emits large quantities of air pollution.

Open burning creates very fine particulate matter or soot. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this soot can irritate the eyes and upper respiratory system, causing coughing, teary eyes, runny nose and sneezing, in the short term, for all persons in the area. For a person with allergies or asthma, working or playing near the burning could be harmful. Grass clippings pose an even greater hazard, as many release natural toxins when burned.

For more information about statewide regulations on open burning and alternatives to burning, visit the department's Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations available on the Web at www.dnr.state.mo.us/pubs/pub2047.pdf or go to EPA's site at www.epa.gov/region07/programs/artd/air/rules/missouri/10-3030.pdf. You also can contact the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

###