Grasscycling refers to leaving grass clippings on the lawn when mowing. The term is a portmanteau word combining "grass" and "recycling", and had come into use by at least 1990^[1] as part of the push to reduce the huge quantities of clippings going into landfills, up to half of some cities' summertime waste flow^[2], as 1,000 square feet (93 m²) of lawn can produce 200 to 500 pounds (90 to 225 kg) of clippings a year.^[3] Natural vegetation dominated by grasses Grass is a common word that generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant in the family Poaceae. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A self propelled Case Windrower. ... A portmanteau (IPA pronunciation: ) is a word or morpheme which fuses two or more words or parts of words to give a combined or loaded meaning. ... Albury landfill, Surrey, England A landfill, also known as a dump, is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. ...

Because grass consists largely of water (80% or more^[4]), contains little lignin^[4], and has high nitrogen content, grass clippings easily break down and return to the soil within one to two weeks^[3], acting primarily as a fertilizer supplement and, to a much smaller degree, a mulch. Grasscycling can provide 15 to 20% or more of a lawn's yearly nitrogen requirements.^{[5] [6]} Proponents also note that grasscycling reduces the use of plastic bags for collecting yard waste and reduces trips to the curb or landfill to haul waste.^[7] Lignin (sometimes lignen) is a chemical compound (complex, highly cross-linked aromatic polymer) that is most commonly derived from wood and is an integral part of the cell walls of plants, especially in tracheids, xylem fibres and sclereids. ... General Name, Symbol, Number nitrogen, N, 7 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 15, 2, p Appearance colorless gas Standard atomic weight 14. ... Spreading manure, an organic fertilizer Fertilizers (British English fertilisers) are compounds given to plants to promote growth; they are usually applied either via the soil, for uptake by plant roots, or by foliar feeding, for uptake through leaves. ... In agriculture and gardening, mulch is a protective cover placed over the soil, primarily to modify the effects of the local climate. ...

Optimal grasscycle techniques include:^[3][5][8]

• Cutting no more than 1/3 the length of the grass
• Cutting when the grass is dry to the touch
• Cutting when the height is between 3 and 4 inches (7 to 10 cm)
• Ensuring that the mower blade is sharp

Although a mulching mower can make grass clippings smaller, one is not necessary for grasscycling.

References

1. ^ Grasscycling definition/etymology.
2. ^ Denver Recycle Grasscycle.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Rivanna Solid Waste Authority Grasscycling Info.
4. ^ ^{a b} Grasscycling FAQ.
5. ^ ^{a b} Grasscycle!.
6. ^ California Integrated Waste Management Board - What is grasscycling?.
7. ^ King County Experience: Grasscycling.
8. ^ Bay Delta Grass Recycling Campaign.

External links

• What is grasscycling?