Emmet County fall decorations and political signs can be composted

The signs of fall traditionally include pumpkins, straw, corn stalks, leaves and gourds -- and this year, plenty of political signs, too.

But when winter hits and the time for these is over, the Emmet County Recycling Center is urging residents not to simply put them in the trash, when they could be turned into compost instead.

The Emmet County Transfer Station is offering free recycling of compostable fall decorations including pumpkins, corn stalks, gourds, squash, straw/hay bales, leaves, grass clippings and fall garden clean-up debris. Leaves in particular account for about 75 percent of trash going into landfills in the fall, when they could be made into nutrient-rich, useful compost instead.

"Composting these items versus dumping them in a landfill them helps the environment, because when landfilled these organics decompose in an anaerobic environment. As a result, they release methane into the environment and contribute to greenhouse gasses," says Lindsey Walker, of the Emmet County Department of Public Works. "Composting keeps the product out of the landfill, creates a local reusable product, finished compost, creates jobs and helps people reduce their waste."

And don't forget those political signs. They must be taken down quickly after the election, but the plastic film and paperboard types, as well as those with metal frames, can be recycled at the transfer station or in regular curbside recycling.

The paperboard signs can go with the "Paper, Boxes and Bags" recycling bins, while plastic signs can go with plastic bags. Metal frames should go to the transfer station for recycling.

All can be dropped off at the drop-off center, transfer station and recycling center, at 7363 Pleasantview Road, Harbor Springs. The center is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Lindsey Walker, Emmet County Department of Public Works.