When your lawn is in bad shape, sometimes the best way to renew your landscaping is to cut out the old dying sod and replace it with new sod. While this is a straightforward job, disposing of the removed sod can pose some challenges.
Why would someone want to remove sod? The most common reason is to replace diseased or dying grass with new sod. In fact, the natural grass sod industry in the U.S. is valued at over $1.1 billion.
There are also environmental reasons to remove a thirsty lawn. Up to 50% of urban water is used outdoors, with much of that watering lawns. Some municipalities, from Aurora, Colorado, to the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas, offer incentives to replace non-essential turf with waterwise landscaping and xeriscaping.
While it’s easy to install new sod, removing old tired sod can be a big job. The issue is mainly what to do with the removed sod. This can be challenging, as sod is heavy, bulky, and messy.
When sod is dumped into a landfill, it begins to decompose anaerobically. This results in the production of methane gas, considered a potent greenhouse gas. It also takes up a lot of space in a landfill. As landfills fill up with bulky waste, communities are forced to build new ones. Finally, as sod breaks down, it releases soil, which can affect nearby water.
Finding an alternative method of disposal is better for the environment. There are several ways to dispose of sod that are better than taking it to a landfill.
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Before attempting to compost sod, make sure it doesn’t contain any pesticides or herbicides. Break it into small pieces and mix it with other organic material. This can be done in a compost pile or compost bin. Turn the sod periodically and water as needed. Eventually, the sod will return to a rich soil mixture ready for your garden beds.
Sometimes pieces of the removed sod are still in good condition. Instead of discarding it, move it to another area of your landscaping. You can also ask friends or neighbors if they are in need of small pieces of sod.
Many communities have green waste facilities available to residents. After the sod is dropped off, it is recycled, either by composting or reusing at other locations nearby.
Professional landscaping companies can help you with sod removal. They can do the work of removal and disposal or simply have them pick up the removed sod from your property. Most companies dispose of used sod in an environmentally friendly manner.
There may be alternate ways to dispose of sod. There may be local green efforts that will collect and reuse sod, or other initiatives. Sod is a tricky material, so using roll off dumpsters may not be an option in some cases.
It’s easy to think that there are no issues with disposing of organic material. After all, it should just naturally break down, right? But there are environmental considerations to take into account. Depositing sod in a landfill can lead to harmful gas release, excessive landfill crowding, and runoff issues. You can help keep your community’s environment clean and safe by utilizing alternative methods of disposal for any sod you take out of your landscaping.
At Discount Dumpster, we take pride in our environmentally friendly disposal methods. We have experience in all types of disposal jobs, including large sod removal projects. If you’re redoing your lawn, give us a call to learn about our affordable and eco-friendly disposal options. We’ll discuss everything from recycling to composting to disposal, partnering with you to get the job done right.
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