City residents encouraged to mulch instead of bagging grass clippings

Steinbach residents can expect to learn more this year about mulching and the benefits of this growing trend. 

Eldon Wallman, the city’s solid waste manager, says they are planning to increase public education. 

“It’s a program that will probably take this year and next year before we really have the full head of steam on it,” he says. “But mulching is the way to go.” 

Even though this growing trend might reduce the amount of product for the city’s compost pile, Wallman believes this is a valuable practice. 

“I would love to have it in my compost depots, but if you’re going to leave it at home and mulch your yard properly, that’s the way to go,” he says. 

Mulching allows grass clippings to compost on your lawn, providing it with a natural fertilizer including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. 

“I hardly use any fertilizer on my yard at all because I don’t need it,” Wallman says. “The grass that I put back in, the clippings are the fertilizer. It makes my grass turn green and it works, it works really well.” 

Whether you mulch or compost, Wallman says it is important we all try to keep grass clippings out of the landfill. 

He notes grass clippings in the landfill are responsible for emitting large amounts of greenhouse gasses as well as contributing nitrogen to leachate, a harmful liquid that has to be removed from the active part of the landfill and then treated before it can be released. 

Steinbach is operating three compost depots this year, running every Saturday until October. You can also drop off your compostable product at the landfill.