Illegal To Burn Leaves In New York-Here’s What To Do Instead

Need eco-friendly ways to manage your fall leaves without burning them? Here are three green alternatives to help keep the air clean while benefiting your garden and community.

Turn Leaves Into Valuable Compost

Instead of letting a big pile of leaves decompose slowly, you can speed up the process by shredding them. Mowing over dry leaves with a mulching mower can significantly reduce their volume. You can spread the shredded leaves directly on your lawn (up to ¾" deep) or add them to your compost pile for a nutrient-rich addition to your spring garden.

Use Leaves as Mulch

In your vegetable garden, leaves can be a winter cover for bare soil and protect hardy vegetables like carrots and kale. In spring, you can turn the leaves into the soil for added nutrients, just remember to balance the nitrogen levels. In flower beds, shredded leaves make excellent mulch and will gradually enrich the soil as they decompose. For a tidier look, you can cover the shredded leaves with a top layer of bark mulch, but keep mulch depth to three inches or less to avoid pest problems.

Municipal Composting

Many communities offer curbside leaf collection or a central drop-off location for composting. This way, your leaves are recycled into compost that you can use later. Check with your local recycling coordinator to see if this is an option where you live.

And remember, burning leaves is illegal in many places, including New York State, and it poses serious health risks from smoke inhalation. Plus, there's always the danger of an accidental fire.