Ecological Impact of Grass Clippings
Lawn grasses provide many benefits to our immediate environment. Soil erosion control, improved protection of groundwater, improvement of the quality of life through noise and dust abatement, improvements of air quality, and aesthetic and recreational contributions are some of the assets provided by turfgrasses. However, disposal of grass clippings requires the attention of homeowners to be a good land steward.
The common practice of treating grass clippings as waste results in overloaded landfills and stormwater pollution. Grass clippings left on the streets and sidewalks pollute waterbodies by entering nearby storm drains. Excessive algae growth is a detrimental outcome of yard waste pollution in streams, lakes, and ponds throughout the country. In large amounts, algae can be harmful to fish and humans by limiting the amount of oxygen in the water. In addition to Algae growth, grass clippings can also clog storm drains resulting in potential flooding and expensive maintenance to correct the problem.
Leave it on the Lawn - A mulching lawnmower shreds the clippings and leaves them on the grass to decompose. Mulching not only prevents stormwater pollution, it also provides moisture and fertilizer for the lawn. Also consider backyard composting or less frequent lawn mowing.
Know Before You Dig!
Because even relatively minor excavation activities like landscaping or fencing can cause damage to a pipeline or utility lines, always contact the 811 One-Call Center before engaging in any excavation, construction, farming or digging. Most states require 2 working days' notice to the One-Call Center to allow the utility operators to mark their pipelines and utilities at your proposed digging site.
One easy FREE phone call to 811 starts the process of getting your underground pipelines and utility lines marked. Once lines have been marked for your project, you will know the approximate location of your pipelines and utility lines, and can safely dig. More information regarding 811 can be found at Call811.com.
Information regarding general utility work
Utilities prefer laying new main line under the sidewalk versus the road as restoration is less expensive both now and in the future: in addition to being less disruptive to traffic. When laying new line under a sidewalk, they keep half of the sidewalk during construction to allow for some form of temporary walkway through the site during the time between project completion and when a new sidewalk is installed. When the new sidewalk is installed, they remove the other half of the concrete and will replace the full width of the sidewalk.
As always, thank you so much for your continued patience and appreciation as we work diligently to improve our community. If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact the Ben Avon Borough public works department at benavonpw [at] benavon.com or (412) 761-5311.