Surveying residential yard trimmings practices.

摘要

The city and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality surveyed compost bin programme participants of more than a year to evaluate the effectiveness of the compost bin programme at increasing landfill diversion and reducing the burning of yard debris. More than a year after receiving their city-sponsored bin, 89% were composting some yard trimmings and 82% reported that they were using the city-sponsored bin. Both before and after bin distribution, residents had a variety of methods available to manage yard debris. Besides on-site composting, options included grass-cycling, on-site chipping, hauling off-site for composting, disposing yard debris with garbage and burning (both outdoor and indoor). The relationship between the bin distribution programme and deliveries of yard debris to Waste Pro, which is the yard trimmings drop-off site and composting operation, demonstrated that most of the yard debris put into compost bins resulting from the city's distribution programme was not the material that previously had been sent to Waste Pro. From 27%, outdoor burning practice decreased to 14% after the respondents received the bins. The survey also evaluated the need for additional bins, benefits and problems associated with home composting, level of satisfaction with the city-provided bins and educational materials, use of finished compost and interest in additional information and services..