In many parts of the U.S., it is now cold and leaf raking took place months ago. But, you should still think about those leaves. If they were thrown out with other household garbage, they might be sitting in a landfill, taking up valuable landfill space.

There is a better solution, and it is an environmentally "green" solution. Even if you are not an environmentalist, this solution makes sense because it is easy, cheap, and produces a rich soil for next year's garden. The answer is composting.

According to some estimates, yard waste accounts for a whopping 18% of the waste generated by households. The number is seasonal: it can climb to 60-80%. People ask "what can I do to preserve the environment?" Composting is one thing everyone can do.

Yard and kitchen scrap waste is recyclable and easy to recycle. When you allow it to decay naturally, it forms "humus." With a little intervention, the process is accelerated and then the product is called "compost." Did you know there is a difference between "compost" and "humus"?

Mixed with soil, this matter can improve soil texture and nutrient enrich it. One of the benefits of home composting is that you get to reap the benefit of your own composting efforts. Compost enriched soil will make your garden greener, your vegetables bigger, and your lawn heathier.

To preserve dwindling landfill space, many municipalities through out the United States already require that leaf waste be separated from other residential waste. Fortunately, many communities now sponsor leaf composting programs. And home composting is becoming increasingly popular.

Florida has been a leader in composting education. In response to its dwindling landfill space problem , Florida enacted solid waste laws requiring every County to reduce the amount of disposed solid waste. By 1994, each County was required to meet a 30 per cent reduction goal.

One of the most efficient means of reaching this goal was to encourage homeowners to recycle, rather than throw out. Yard composting has been a vital part of this solution. And the University of Florida has been the self appointed, state-wide compost educator.

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has been studying yard composting since the early 1990s. In 1991, it published a Fact Sheet entitled "Construction of Home Compost Units." The paper encourages home owners to compost vegetable scraps and yard waste rather than throwing them out.

Other States and local governments are also becoming compost preachers and educators. For example, the University of California in San Bernardino runs a program aimed at assisting homeowners who wish to develop the "optimum composting program." As part of this program, staff will actually visit a participant's home and determine his/her needs.

In Rhode Island, backyard composting is promoted through newspaper and radio advertisements, which provide composting information and phone numbers to call. Also, the State has developed how-to videos on these topics which are available in libraries and video outlets.

In Texas, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) offers brochures and videos on home composting. Texas A&M also offers Texans a composting manual.

In many States, composting programs are found at the County and municipal levels. Interested composters should contact their State, County and local environmental agencies and health officers to determine what kind of assistance may be available. Often , some kind of hands on program is available.

So hats off to the University of Florida for keeping its eye on the environmentally important composting initiative. And hats off to all of the other government agencies nationwide that recognize the importance of home composting.

Published: January 15, 1999

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Stuart Lieberman, Esq. writes about environmental issues. He was a New Jersey Deputy Attorney General assigned to the State Department of Environmental Protection from 1986 to 1990. Currently he is a shareholder in the environmental law firm of Lieberman & Blecher, P.C., located in Princeton, New Jersey. Stuart can be reached at slieberman@liebermanblecher.com.