Encouraging Shredding of Leaves at Home

I have been asked to develop a "tool box" on recycling leaves and twigs at home. We would like to encourage our residents to shred their leaves and twigs and use the resulting mulch on their property instead of raking and bagging them and putting them curbside for collection. Has anyone done this through local government? One idea that has been suggested is to provide a list of equipment that works well to shred leaves and twigs. Is it a problem for a government agency to recommend brands of equipment? (This idea came from someone who bought equipment, used it a couple of times, and then it broke and couldn't be repaired.) Has anyone successfully negotiated a discount for this type of equipment with one or more home improvement stores? Does anyone have any proven ideas to promote this? We do have a good backyard composting program, but this would supplement that program, especially for those residents who can't - or won't - compost.

Thank you,
Karen

Karen J. Deeter,
Director
Alachua County
Division of Waste Management
Post Office Box 1188,
Gainesville, FL 32602-1188
Tel: (352) 374-5245, ext. 278
Fax: (352) 337-6244
E-mail: [email protected]
www.alachuacounty.us