New rules for bagging leaves

Q What's the "greenest" way to deal with leaves? I usually put them in a large plastic garbage bag, but that doesn't seem very eco-friendly.

A If you live in the Twin Cities area, chances are this will be the last year you'll be bagging your leaves in black plastic yard bags. It'll be illegal next year.

Beginning Jan. 1, residents of Anoka, Carver, Hennepin (excluding the city of Minneapolis), Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties will be required to put their waste out for pickup in compostable bags -- either paper bags or compostable plastic bags. (Dakota County has been requiring compostable bags for years.)

Yard waste carts and paper bags have been around for years, and the technology of compostable plastic bags isn't new.

Using paper and compostable plastic bags rather than traditional black plastic bags will greatly reduce the amount of plastic being sent to local composting facilities. Because local composters will have less plastic to screen out of their finished compost, processing costs will be reduced and the quality of the finished compost will be enhanced.

Compostable plastic bags are distinct from regular plastic bags because they are usually clear or a green-tinted opaque color. Most home improvement, grocery and hardware stores now carry them. If you don't see them at your local store, ask an employee; many store owners are just learning of this requirement and may appreciate the customer request.

So start bagging green now.

• Use a mulching mower to break leaves into tiny pieces and leave them on your lawn.

• Compost your yard waste at home or at a county compost site.

Remember:

• Don't rake leaves onto the street or sidewalk. It washes too many leaves, and therefore nutrients, into our lakes and streams. If you own shoreline, don't rake leaves into lakes or streams, either.

• Don't throw yard waste in the trash. Mixing yard and tree waste with your trash is illegal in Minnesota.

Includes information from rethinkrecycling.com.