Dealing With Fall Leaves the Eco-Friendly Way

The changing colors of the autumn leaves are beautiful – until they’re no longer on the trees and instead are covering your yard. Here are a couple of ways to be green with the fall colors.

Skip the leaf blower and use a rake. While it’s a little more labor intensive, raking leaves is better for the environment than the leaf blower. Leaf blowers create a lot of noise pollution, and — if they’re diesel powered — create a fair amount of air pollution as well (unless you’re running on bio-diesel).

Don’t burn your leaves. Once you’ve got the leaves raked in nice piles, go ahead and jump in them, but don’t burn them. Burning creates a lot of smoke, especially when leaves are damp, and releases particulate matter and toxic compounds.

Do compost or mulch. Some areas offer yard waste pick up in addition to garbage collection and curbside recycling.
However, if you don’t have yard waste pick up mulch or composting are much better options. Care2 has simple suggestions on composting and/or mulching your leaves.

Green Options Media is a network of environmentally-focused blogs providing users with the information needed to make sustainable choices. Written by experienced professionals, Green Options Media’s blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. We invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance.

Read more: Community, Do Good, Green, Lawns & Gardens, Life, composting, fall leaves

By Amy Stodghill, Green Options

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Winn A.

11:27AM PDT on Oct 23, 2012

Thanks

October 23
send a green star

Dawn C.

11:23AM PDT on Oct 3, 2012

Wear work gloves, especially if you rake alot of leaves. You will blister your hands otherwise.

October 3
send a green star

Michele W.

12:28PM PDT on May 26, 2012

Thank you

May 26
send a green star

Jennifer C.

5:09PM PDT on Mar 22, 2012

Thanks.

March 22
send a green star

KS G.

1:17AM PDT on Oct 2, 2011

Thanks for the article.

October 2
send a green star

Robert O.

12:40AM PDT on Sep 28, 2011

Thanks Megan.

September 28
send a green star

Cynthia B.

5:13PM PDT on May 3, 2010

Leaf blowers are an enemy of the environment...and SO IRRITATING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS!!!!!

May 3
send a green star

Judith C.

2:21PM PDT on Mar 21, 2010

It's good exercise and good fun raking the leaves. Leaves are great added to the compost or spread on the garden.

March 21
send a green star

Michael C.

7:04PM PST on Mar 11, 2010

Mulching is a great use for leaves - just hit them once with a mulching mower (or twice if your mower doesn't have a mulching blade) and you're good to go. Rake onto your beds and you'll provide great insulation for the coming winter.