Residents face this issue when faced with lawn clippings, pine straw, and other small yard debris throughout the year. Once the raking and leaf blowing is done, where should it all go? Leaf litter poses a serious hazard when it accumulates in storm drains and gutters. The storm drains are designed to allow water to quickly drain away after a heavy rainfall, but if they become blocked or clogged, serious flooding issues can occur. Leaf litter decomposes more quickly in urban gutters than it does in natural forest settings. The rapid rate of decomposition may release more nutrients into the surface water after rainfall events. It is important to prevent this, because the introduction of nutrients into the surface water is a leading cause of unsightly algae growth. While nutrients are useful in helping plants grow in your garden or lawn, too much of a good thing is actually a bad thing. Rapid influxes of nutrients from decomposing leaves and grass cause algae to proliferate in surface waters, making the water unfit for swimming and killing native plants and fish. Because this is such an important issue to citizens, most municipalities even have ordinance pertaining to it, prohibiting the introduction of yard debris into our streets and drainage system. We need to keep storm drains and gutters clear, and proper disposal of yard debris is something each of us can do. How do we do it? There are a few ways:

1.Utilize the leaf litter and grass clippings as mulch for flower beds, vegetable gardens, or along fence lines to prevent weed growth. Mulch has numerous benefits to the soil; it helps retain moisture, insulates, and protects from temperature fluctuation, and improves soil health through the addition of nutrients via decomposition. Mulch can also help protect the quality of local lakes and streams by reducing soil erosion and stormwater runoff.

2.Add the material to your compost; leaves are rich in minerals and nutrients. Grinding them with the lawnmower before adding to the compost will ensure that they release their nutrients and accelerate the composting process. Leaves add carbon and fibrous material to your compost pile, so it's best to balance their contribution with a nitrogen source. Fortunately, grass clippings are high in nitrogen, so yard debris becomes a winning combination in your compost pile!

3.Allow grass clippings or ground leaves to dry and decompose in place. They won't smother your grass; in fact, they will add nutrients and help retain soil moisture.

4.Collect and store the leaves and grass clippings in bags to be collected on yard waste pickup day. Proper disposal will keep our waters clear and help prevent flooding.

Yard clippings and fallen leaves, if not properly disposed, can accumulate in drainage systems and clog sewer pipes. Clogged pipes cause storm drain overflows leading to street or yard flooding. In addition, accumulated yard waste in drainage systems can case pollution of our waterways and increased maintenance costs with only a moderate amount of rain. Yard clippings and waste contain nutrients like phosphorus. When added to streams, ponds, and wetlands, nutrients encourage lush growth of pond weeds and algae in the spring that can reduce the amount of oxygen in the water needed to sustain fish and aquatic life. In severe cases, this accumulation of nutrients can contribute to the growth of cyanobacteria (blue green algae) blooms that can be toxic to people and animals, interfering with our ability to use these water bodies for fishing and swimming. Herbicides may also be present on yard clippings, which can cause impacts to the receiving water bodies.

Pet waste that isn't properly disposed of isn't just a hazard waiting to happen to your favorite pair of shoes, and it doesn't just disappear (unless you have a friendly neighborhood pet waste disposal person).The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers pet waste a "nonpoint source pollutant." This type of pollution is caused by runoff from rainfall or snowmelt moving over the ground, picking up the pollutant and depositing it into natural bodies of water and underground drinking water. When pet waste is left on the ground, it can have a devastating impact on lawns and, more importantly, on the larger environment as well. It also poses a threat to people and other animals

Two of the greatest dangers of unattended pet waste are the parasites and bacteria found inside it. "Roundworm eggs last for years, and [because of this], dog waste should not go in compost that will end up as vegetable garden fertilizers. Hookworms are a concern in sandy areas where people are on the beach or barefoot in parks and playgrounds since these worms will migrate under the skin, causing scars," says Steve B. Thompson, DVM, DABVP, clinical associate professor at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the Pet Wellness Clinic at Purdue. "These two worms are the primary reason for 'pooper scooper' laws at the beach and public parks,"

Other bacteria and parasites that can survive in dog and cat waste include tapeworms, Salmonella, Giardia and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Cat feces can also contain Toxoplasma gondii, which can lead to the disease toxoplasmosis.

If waste is not picked up, people and pets are at risk for being infected or reinfected with these parasites. Pets who walk through your house after being in an area with unattended waste can also increase your exposure to these dangers because they may track that waste into your home. For the same reason, children who play outside in areas frequented by dogs or cats should always wash their hands afterward, just in case they came in contact with pet feces.