Council approves cut-it-and-leave-it policy

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — The Point Pleasant Beach mayor and council approved a resolution supporting a cut-it-and-leave-it environmental policy in the borough, where homeowners are being encouraged to leave grass clippings on their lawns after mowing.

This statewide initiative is intended to both save homeowners money on municipal waste pickup as well as divert the clippings away from solid waste streams, according to a press release about the resolution from the Point Pleasant Beach Environmental Commission.

“Grass clippings contribute a large amount of waste to New Jersey’s municipal solid waste stream,” the release said. “After mowing your lawn, simply let the grass clippings fall down into the soil, which will quickly decompose to fertilize your soil. The grass clippings will benefit your lawn by adding nutrients to the soil, and will reduce municipal waste.”

The commission also explained that grass clippings like these do not contribute to “thatch,” which is “an accumulation of dead roots, stems and rhizomes (rootstalks) that slowly decompose.”

“Grass clippings are made of 95% water, which decomposes very rapidly and will not harm your lawn,” it said. “Thatch is a result of an over-fertilized lawn.”

“To properly maintain your lawn,” said the release, “keep it at a length of 2.5 to 3.5 inches high in order to keep the soil shaded from the sun and keep the roots cool. You save the time it takes to bag up the grass clippings and you also save money in lawn supplies and fertilizers.”

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