Where should all the leaves that fall from the trees in autumn go? Proper disposal should not be done randomly, but is even subject to legal regulations. This guide will tell you how to get rid of your autumn leaves properly and conveniently at the same time.
How can I dispose of autumn leaves properly?
Leaves can be disposed of in the organic waste bin, picked up by the municipality, composted in your own garden or, in rare cases, burned. Please pay attention to legal regulations and environmentally friendly methods when disposing of it.
Disposal options
- Dispose of leaves in the organic waste bin
- Pick up leaves
- Compost leaves
- Burn leaves
Dispose of leaves in the organic waste bin
You probably don't use any aggressive sprays in your home garden, so your leaf waste is purely natural. This means you can dispose of the leaves in the organic waste bin. Fill the leaves into organic garbage bags (€13.00 on Amazon) and be careful not to stuff them too full. Branches contained can cause cracks in the plastic. It therefore makes sense to shred the leaves beforehand.
Have the leaves picked up
Of course, leaf litter is not the only waste that is generated within a week. Together with the household waste, the organic waste bin quickly becomes overfilled. Most of the time, the municipality will come to your aid by placing containers on the side of the road during the peak leaf fall season.
Compost leaves
Even if disposal seems to make the most sense, it can be useful to store some of the leaves in the compost. Over time the foliage decomposes. Small animals convert it into organic material, which is ideal for fertilizing plants. Please note, however, that your compost pile should consist of a maximum of 20% leaves, that you need to protect the leaves from moisture and that not all types of leaves are suitable for composting. The walnut, for example, contains toxic tannic acid. You can read even more useful information about composting leaves in this guide.
Burn leaves
It used to be customary to burn your green waste and leaf litter on certain days. Today this is largely banned for environmental reasons. So you can't just start a fire in your yard, no matter how small the pile is. Burning leaves is only permitted in very rare cases. But even then, burning is subject to strict requirements. Therefore, make extensive inquiries. Basic regulations can be found on this page.
