I am careful about what I pitch.
When I am cleaning out, I rehome as much as I can. I list things for sale or free on Facebook Marketplace mostly. I think this puts things in the hands of someone who can use it.
I recycle (glass, paper, plastic) aggressively.
So really the only thing that goes in our garbage can (from the house) each week is one tall kitchen garbage bag.
Yard waste is another matter.
We have generated a lot of trimmings this year. We save a lot of branches as kindling, for ourselves and neighbors, but the rest goes in the can. I have had a lot of weeds. And a lot of other yard waste.
Many weeks this summer, we not only filled the can, but also filled tall paper yard waste bags.
Each week, I make sure we utilize the space available in the can 100%.
If I get to the weekend and the can is emptish, I am actively looking around the yard at what needs to go.
That “filling the can” mentality has both paced me and pushed me.
Things have gotten done simply because I did not want to waste pick up service. Things have gotten scheduled for specific weekends based on can space.
It has made a big difference.
I started the spring with very messy flower beds.
I am ending the fall with major work down.
I walked all thru my yard with someone this week, looking at beds and paths. I pulled one weed as we walked, mint hiding in with the bittersweet. I did not see any other weeds. And I saw a lot of tidiness.
I started early in the spring because the rains softened up the ground enough so that I could do a lot myself. The warm fall allowed me to keep going longer than is usually possible. I still have things in bloom as we near the end of October.
I never would have guessed I could get so much done in one spring/summer/fall year. But I really did. I am so looking forward to next spring. Trimming starts in April.
