Okay to put invasives in county yard waste?

[Anonymous]

I'm hoping to pull a bunch of garlic mustard this weekend. Can I put it in the MoCo yard waste? Does their compost process kill all possible seeds? I'm assuming yes, but curious to hear if anyone has investigated this and knows the answer. I looked online but couldn't find much.

[Anonymous]

Is it commercial? If it’s commercial, yes.

[Anonymous]

I put invasives in the trash. The county recycles yard waste and gives it out as free mulch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I put invasives in the trash. The county recycles yard waste and gives it out as free mulch.

This. Trash, not yard waste

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what DC does? I have a yard waste bag full of invasives and weeds...

[Anonymous]

You taught me something, OP. We put Japanese Stiltgrass in our FFX Co. yard waste and it never occurred to me that it might be a problem. My bad. Thanks, OP.

[Anonymous]

"Place pest-infested yard waste and invasive plant species in the trash cart."
From https://www.rockvillemd.gov/1115/Branches-Yard-Waste
Might vary by municipality but good rule of thumb is to trash invasives once and for all.

[Anonymous]

It should be composted at pretty high temperatures in the county facility, so any seeds shouldn't matter.

https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/DepHowDoI/material.aspx?tag=yard-trim&material_key=72

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Place pest-infested yard waste and invasive plant species in the trash cart."
From https://www.rockvillemd.gov/1115/Branches-Yard-Waste
Might vary by municipality but good rule of thumb is to trash invasives once and for all.

Our trash won't be picked up if they see any yard waste in the trash can (MoCo)

I do throw english ivy in the ward waste bin.

[Anonymous]

If you put weeds in trash make sure you use the heavy black contractor bags so it cant't be seen. I tried putting them in regular trash bags and the guys insisted it was yard waste and wouldn't pick it up. (MoCo)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It should be composted at pretty high temperatures in the county facility, so any seeds shouldn't matter.

https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/DepHowDoI/material.aspx?tag=yard-trim&material_key=72

OP here. Yes, this is exactly what I'm wondering about. Also the folks who said the county won't pick up trash if green matter is visible. Thanks for the advice from someone above to put weeds in black bags so they can't see what it is when they pick it up. But I would hate to trash all this stuff (lots of it) if it turns out it would be composted at high enough heat to kill seeds. The county website doesn't say anything about invasives at all. You'd think that if it weren't permitted, it would be on the list of things that are not accepted?

[Anonymous]

I have always read that garlic mustard, once it has bloomed, should not be composted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have always read that garlic mustard, once it has bloomed, should not be composted.

But again, do they mean not home composted? There are a lot of things that can’t be done in a home-type compost that can be put in commercial compost (meat and bones is a good example).

OP you might need to contact them directly. It’s weird if that isn’t on their website (or that you’re getting conflicting info, it looks like? Sorry, i was never great on my Maryland geography and political boundaries).

[Anonymous]

If you put invasives in yard waste, pieces or seeds or whatever could get scattered around before the load reaches the compost facility. Less likely if it’s in trash.

[Anonymous]

Arlington says its collected yard waste gets composted at a high enough temperature to kill weeds