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As the leaves begin to change color and fall, it’s time to consider how you’ll manage them. Instead of the laborious task of raking, bagging, and sending them off for disposal, think about an alternative approach that benefits both your time and your garden: leave the leaves!

Leaving leaves on your lawn or garden creates a natural mulch that suppresses weeds and enriches the soil as it decomposes. This organic layer also provides essential habitat for wildlife like lizards, birds, turtles, frogs, and beneficial insects. These creatures help control pests and increase pollination, ensuring they’re around when your garden needs them most.

According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), using a mulching mower to chop leaves directly back into your lawn is not only safe for the grass but also a cost-effective and time-saving method for managing fall leaves. There’s no need to add extra fertilizers when you mulch your leaves.

Now, for the exception: while leaving leaf litter on your lawn is beneficial for the reason described above, the density of the layer matters. A thin layer is good, but a thick layer of fallen leaves can smother your lawn. To prevent patch es of dead grass in the spring, make sure the leaves are evenly distributed and not densely piled in one spot.

If you prefer to remove the leaves from your lawn, they can still play a valuable role in your garden. Spread them between rows of crops, around fruit trees, or in shaded area where vegetation struggles to grow. You can also move them you your backyard compost to save them for next year’s garden.

If all else fails, leaves can be picked up by your hauler. Contact them for more information or reach out to a local landscaper who provides mulching or a leaf vacuum service. You are encouraged to reevaluate your usual practices for managing leaves. Experiment with what works best for you and your lawn and find the most beneficial way to use this valuable resource!

Get ready for the return of the Annual Pumpkin Palooza! This year, we're turning your post-Halloween pumpkins into compost gold. From the end of October to mid-November, bring your pumpkins and gourds (minus the paint, glitter, and candles) to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex. Keep an eye on our social media for the official dates and let's make this the biggest Pumpkin Palooza yet!

Fairfax County has kicked off an exciting new initiative that turns leftover latex paint into a force for good! In a pilot program launched by the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, we’ve partnered with Operation Stream Shield (OSS) and D.C.'s Pangea Markets to give full or nearly full cans of latex paint a second chance.

But it’s not just about recycling—this program is about transformation. The recovered paint doesn’t just get repurposed; it also provides valuable job training for OSS participants. After that, it's packaged and shipped to Honduras, where it will be used to support global sustainability efforts. By doing this, we aim to recover up to 85% of the latex paint generated in the county—around 2 million pounds a year! Learn more of the pilot program by watching this short video: Reviving Paint, Restoring Lives: Fairfax County’s Zero-Waste Pilot (youtube.com).

If you have old paint at home, you can be part of this impactful program. Simply bring your cans to the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill Complex’s Household Hazardous Waste station. Remember, small amounts of latex paint can air dry and be tossed in the regular trash. But if it’s oil-based, it must be disposed of as Household Hazardous Waste.