The sun is out, the birds are chirping, and the grass is growing. This also means mowing the lawn, picking up sticks, and pulling weeds. See below for some tips to sustainably maintain a healthy lawn and garden this season.

In Michigan, yard waste is banned from going to landfills because of the methane (a potent greenhouse gas) it creates. Yard waste is picked up curbside and is taken to be composted. For collection and composting purposes, yard waste must be contained in a brown yard waste bag or a trash can marked with a “yard waste” sticker. It should not be placed in your recycling cart or left at the drop-off sites. Because yard waste handling differs by community, we have listed the contact information for each one below or you can visit our Collection & Preparation page to find your community's specifications.

Farmington DPW:

248-473-7250

Farmington Hills DPW:

248-871-2850

Village of Milford DPW:

248-685-3055

Township Offices:

248-685-8731

GFL Environmental

South Lyon DPW:

248-437-6914

Southfield DPW:

248-796-4860

Walled Lake DPW:

866-624-4847

Wixom DPW:

248-624-0141

In the warmer months, grass clippings can account for up to 50% of one's total yard trimmings. Grasscycling, a simple and natural approach to lawn care, is the practice of leaving grass clippings on the lawn or using them as mulch - no raking or bagging involved! Through decomposition, grass clippings release nitrogen and other valuable nutrients into the soil, resulting in a greener, healthier lawn without the use of fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides.

In order to grasscycle, mow no more than 1 inch off your lawn when it is dry by using a mulching blade. Leave the grass clippings where they fall and allow them to decompose. Any clippings that blow onto sidewalks or driveways can be swept back onto the lawn to prevent them from ending up in surface water or drains.

Interested in grasscycling and want to learn more? Click here!

By spreading a thin layer of mulch on your garden or flowerbeds, you can add nutrients, reduce run-off, and insulate your soil. It even keeps your plants cool as the temperature rises! Save money by making your own mulch using the following ingredients:

Leaves and Pine Needles: Chop these up until they're about the size of a dime, either by using the lawn mower or with hedge trimmers. You can add in some grass clippings (see "Grasscycling" above) or leave it on its own.

Newspaper: Carefully rip four to eight sheets to allow them to wrap around the base of your plants, then moisten them with a hose or watering can to ensure they stay in place. Top them off with grass clippings, leaves, or compost to prevent them from drying out.

Compost: Households produce a significant amount of organic material that is well-suited for composting such as vegetative food scraps from the kitchen, dead houseplants, and garden trimmings. Make sure your compost is a dark, earthy substance before scattering a layer 2"- 4" thick on your garden.

Put your thinking caps on! Southfield Cable 15 has written and produced an informative video to spread awareness about the importance of recycling right that applies to all RRRASOC communities. Give it a try! Thanks, Southfield Cable 15!

Did you know? Expired or unused medications can be hazardous to people, pets, and the environment if not disposed of properly. Follow along as a local Girl Scout who is working toward her Gold Award (the highest award in Girl Scouts!) explains the basics of proper medicine disposal.

For more information on medicine disposal, click here. Don't forget to check the dates below for upcoming HHW Collection events!

May 21st, 2022 👕

July 16th, 2022 👕

October 29th, 2022 👕

*The T-shirt icon indicates an HHW Collection Event in which clothing, shoes, accessories, and small household items will be accepted by Simple Recycling.

For more information about HHW events and how to prepare your items, please visit our HHW page.

If you have HHW that you'd like to properly dispose of between collection events, you're in luck! Drop off your HHW without a fee at ERG Environmental Services during the following hours:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

HHW pickup from your home is also available for a fee of $135 per stop plus $0.75 per pound of material collected. This fee is paid directly by the resident to ERG Environmental Services.

ERG Environmental Services

13040 Merriman Road, Livonia

(734) 437-9650

For more info, visit the ERG HHW Drop-Off page or our HHW page.

Want more tips, tricks, and updates about recycling? We have a Facebook page where we can reach you daily to make recycling easier. Not only that, but you can reach us too - send us a message or comment on one of our posts today!

Not sure what to do with stuff?

Visit rrrasoc.org and use the Recycling Directory search bar to type in keywords and get recycling, composting, reuse or disposal instructions.

The searchable, intuitive format of the Recycling Directory provides RRRASOC specific information.

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