ways to dispose of grass clippings?

[Wyllner's L & Landscaping]

What are some of the best ways to get ride of all the grass clipping you collect?

[Frontstreetlawns]

have someone in the back of the truck shoveling as you go down the freeway;):clapping::nono::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Jason Rose]

Here's how I do it! Mind you this picture was from last August sometime, Temps were in the upper 90s and it was dry here for about 3 months... This was about 2/3 of a days haul.

Spring/fall, or any wet time of the year, the poor truck looks like this by noon sometimes! The truck dumps, of course, and I have several sites to choose from, out landfill has a seperate compost site and takes it for free, plus the couple other locations to run too.

[Green Pastures]

We have a contractor dump yard where we dump grass clippings, hedge clippings and leaves.

[Jason Rose]

Did you say for free?:drinkup:

Yep, free! We are pretty lucky around here I guess... And that "free" is why everyone bags around here. Most all homeowners are used to having their lawns bagged, and basically if you don't bag, you aren't going to be mowing any nice lawns.

[Wyllner's L & Landscaping]

thanks for the suggestions, I'll have to look around my area for places to take grass.
Thanks again

[IN2MOWN]

My father in law has 20 acres so I dump all my grass, leafs, debris down there and burn it twice a year.

[cgaengineer]

If I bag I do not remove from site...I will find a place onsite to dump.

[willider]

We have a local car wash that has a large sign that says: NO LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT ALLOWED!!!" I dump mine in the wash bay drains late at night......:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[joshco84]

The small town i live in also has a free brush site/dump. Lucky me:clapping::clapping:

[Valk]

Side~discharge OR mulch it...! No muss...NO fuss. :laugh:

[stevenf]

If a customer drops you, you can always dump all of it in there front lawn :laugh:

[barefeetny]

I take it for free from my idiot mow the world freinds who bag everything..

they toss it in the equitment lot

Toss it in with all the leaves and manure and presto

i sell a few yards of compost and my garden looks great

[Gaturf]

Most of my customers let me dump in the wood line of there home, but i have 4 or 5 customers that do not have wood lines so if they want it bagged i charge them $1.50-$2.00 more per visit to cover the cost of the walker disposable bags and the cost of the land fill.

gaturf

[Dynamic]

We dump ours at a local beef farm, all the clippings we collect are free of fertilizers and sprays so it makes cheap feed for the farmer.

[Sal200]

Most of my customers let me dump in the wood line of there home, but i have 4 or 5 customers that do not have wood lines so if they want it bagged i charge them $1.50-$2.00 more per visit to cover the cost of the walker disposable bags and the cost of the land fill.

gaturf

Im trying to figure out how much extra i should charge my customers who want me to haul away clippings. I bag all of my houses because over here no one wants clippings left on the grass, so i have really one customer who doesnt like the fact that we dont haul away the clippings. We put them in contractor bags and leave them at the house for the garbage to take them. So do you think that $2.00 extra a week is fine to charge to haul them away. For this particular house we do about 2 and 1/2 bags with the catcher on the wb. Is 2.00 to little to charge or would it be okay. Thanks

[John Gamba]

Im trying to figure out how much extra i should charge my customers who want me to haul away clippings. I bag all of my houses because over here no one wants clippings left on the grass, so i have really one customer who doesnt like the fact that we dont haul away the clippings. We put them in contractor bags and leave them at the house for the garbage to take them. So do you think that $2.00 extra a week is fine to charge to haul them away. For this particular house we do about 2 and 1/2 bags with the catcher on the wb. Is 2.00 to little to charge or would it be okay. Thanks



What will it cost you to dump them?

[Sal200]

What will it cost you to dump them?

To be honest, i dont know how dumping prices work. We have never taken anything to the dump. But i know that my town does it by the weight.

[paponte]

Compost it.

[Gaturf]

Im trying to figure out how much extra i should charge my customers who want me to haul away clippings. I bag all of my houses because over here no one wants clippings left on the grass, so i have really one customer who doesnt like the fact that we dont haul away the clippings. We put them in contractor bags and leave them at the house for the garbage to take them. So do you think that $2.00 extra a week is fine to charge to haul them away. For this particular house we do about 2 and 1/2 bags with the catcher on the wb. Is 2.00 to little to charge or would it be okay. Thanks

I Pay about $90 for 75 bags. These bags are made for walker mowers so there about 85 gallons (Dont quote me on that 85 gallons). I can use each bag about 3 times before i have to throw it away. Plus, these are weekly accounts so the grass doesnt have time to grow that fast. I can mow 2 yards before i need to dump the clippings in some cases. My Dump bills are only about $5 a week. I keep the bags in my truck bed for a few days then go to the dump. So about $140 a year for dump fees and $90 a year for bags. This price has worked for the past few years because dump fees and bag prices have stayed about the same. My customers dont mind the little extra charge. This price may be to high for your area or it may be just right. I dont charge the fees to make money (even thought i should) I just charge it to cover my extra cost, minus fuel and time.

[John Gamba]

To be honest, i dont know how dumping prices work. We have never taken anything to the dump. But i know that my town does it by the weight.



Find out what it cost by the pound.

[Sal200]

Compost it.

Do you compost it at the customers house or at your house.

[KS_Grasscutter]

I Pay about $90 for 75 bags. These bags are made for walker mowers so there about 85 gallons (Dont quote me on that 85 gallons). I can use each bag about 3 times before i have to throw it away. Plus, these are weekly accounts so the grass doesnt have time to grow that fast. I can mow 2 yards before i need to dump the clippings in some cases. My Dump bills are only about $5 a week. I keep the bags in my truck bed for a few days then go to the dump. So about $140 a year for dump fees and $90 a year for bags. This price has worked for the past few years because dump fees and bag prices have stayed about the same. My customers dont mind the little extra charge. This price may be to high for your area or it may be just right. I dont charge the fees to make money (even thought i should) I just charge it to cover my extra cost, minus fuel and time.

Where do you get the bags? I might be interested in trying those this year...

[Roger]

Gaturf -- if those bags are 85 gallons, and you fill them with grass clippings, how do you handle them? They must weight about 200#. I know a 45 gallon trash barrel, stuffed with clippings is nearly 120#. How sturdy are they to handle? Or stated otherwise, how easily do they break?

Also, if you keep them around for a few weeks before dumping, the contents must be pretty rank by the time to get to the dump.

I handle all my clippings (3-4 cu yds during Apr, May, Jun) bulk. But, I would like to find another way. Maybe these large reusable bags is another way, hence my questions. Where do you get the bags?

The composting idea is a good one, but I suggest a large area to make the pile. In the heavy growing months, the smell from such a pile can be overwhelming. Further, the stuff will turn to slime if the clippings are heavy-laden with moisture. Getting the stuff out at a later time can be a huge chore, let alone the smell.

[Jason Rose]

I dumped a FULL walker load on a tarp a couple times... If you are MAN enough to pick that up and heave it into the back of a truck, well I hope I'm never on your "enemy" list. I did get it in there, but I was pretty much spent for the day. And that was ONE load. How the the HE!! you can even MOVE a plastic bag that's filled with 9.5 bushels of grass is beyond me. And how in the heck does the garbage man handle that??? Their truck dosn't magically pick it up, they have to heave it too. Your customers are probably getting binked bigtime for the extra weight of the bag on their monthly bill.

And $90 for 75 bags... Yeah, I spend (waste) money on some DUMB things, but to literally THROW AWAY over a dollar every time you dump the hopper, that's insane! If I used my walker even on 50% of my lawns I'd use the whole box of bags in that one week...

[Gaturf]

Come on people...do you think im making this up? I said DON'T QUOTE ME ON 85 GALLONS....Im not sure how much they hold. BUT...If you dump your hopper near your truck and let the tailgate down you can put your arms around it and lift it up. I do it all the time. And i don't leave them in my truck bed for weeks at a time. The longest they stay in there is a few days....Few meaning 2. And Jason.....If you read the entire post (instead of just scanning over it) you would realize that i only use the bags on 4-5 of my accounts! So if you can use an entire box on 5 accounts then your cutting some pretty big lawns and maybe you should think about side discharging! And I'm not wasting money if my customers are footing the bill for it. And maybe if you take off your panties you could lift it!

And for the others who have commented about where to get the bags from you can go to any walker dealer and ask for the disposable bags.

[Jason Rose]

A. Well I don't know where to start here... You need to chill out.
B. My "panties" are just fine. I have a real truck for mowing, a dump truck, with sides that are about 6 foot high. That's what I picture when I think of loading something in the back of it. I bag 95% of the time, hence bags are NOT practical for me. Did I "skim" your post, well I guess I did. But does that change the fact that lifting a 200 pound bag of grass into the bed of a truck is nuts? No. I don't care if it's 85 gallons, or 185 gallons. Weight is weight. If it was feathers I wouldn't be posting right now. Soaking wet grass is a whole 'nother ballgame. If that's what you do for a few customers and you are happy, that's great. I'm sure it's a lot better solution than having that grass in the bed of the truck loose. I know that gets ugly. I deal with it 6 days a week, I'm set up to handle it.

I've had to move/pick up 39 gallon bags that have been filled with grass and sat a couple days before. It's NASTY. I don't care who you are, it's FOUL. If you think people "don't mind" having those sitting on their driveway rotting and leaking "grass tea" for a couple days I'm betting that they do. And the poor guy that has to deal with those I'm sure has the same sentiments.

[Gaturf]

I don't care who you are, it's FOUL. If you think people "don't mind" having those sitting on their driveway rotting and leaking "grass tea" for a couple days I'm betting that they do. And the poor guy that has to deal with those I'm sure has the same sentiments.

Who said anything about leaving bags in someones driveway? And most guys dont use a dump truck....they use a regular pick up truck. And like i said before....Why would l lie about picking up bags of grass? I fill the bags and lift them on the tail gate of my PICK UP truck. Then that day or the next day i drive them to the dump and empty them out.

[jdmcat]

wow, must be nice to dump for free. i have to pay about $30/ton to dump and then they turn around and sell the compost. that's the business to be in i guess.

[KS_Grasscutter]

I don't care who you are, it's FOUL. If you think people "don't mind" having those sitting on their driveway rotting and leaking "grass tea" for a couple days I'm betting that they do. And the poor guy that has to deal with those I'm sure has the same sentiments.

Who said anything about leaving bags in someones driveway? And most guys dont use a dump truck....they use a regular pick up truck. And like i said before....Why would l lie about picking up bags of grass? I fill the bags and lift them on the tail gate of my PICK UP truck. Then that day or the next day i drive them to the dump and empty them out.

In one of your posts I think you mentioned something about leaving clippings at most houses or something, but quite frankly, I am too lazy to go back and look. But anyway... Most guys here use dump trucks, just like Jason does. Sure simplifies the process. And I can't IMAGINE lifting 9.5 bushels of grass into a truck, 6 or 8 times a day. What happend to "work smarter not harder"?

[Gaturf]

wow, must be nice to dump for free. i have to pay about $30/ton to dump and then they turn around and sell the compost. that's the business to be in i guess.


tell me about it. free dumping would be great. I think my dump charges a minimum of $5 and $25 per ton. Thats way i alway pay $5, i never have a ton worth of grass. Now Jason has a dump truck so he should have a big bill!

gaturf

[Gaturf]

In one of your posts I think you mentioned something about leaving clippings at most houses or something, but quite frankly, I am too lazy to go back and look. But anyway... Most guys here use dump trucks, just like Jason does. Sure simplifies the process. And I can't IMAGINE lifting 9.5 bushels of grass into a truck, 6 or 8 times a day. What happend to "work smarter not harder"?

Well im sorry but down here in Ga we use regular pick up truck with trailers or Isuzu box trucks. Not to many dump trucks here. and if you were to look in the back yards of some of your customers you might see some areas to dump your clippings....I think that is working smarter and not harder....its alot easier to pull the hopper open and dump than to put it in your big dump truck. then haul it off somewhere. and Who said i do this 6-8 times? I believe i said i only had 5 accounts that required this....and out of those five accounts i may only fill 2 bags. how hard is that?

[Jason Rose]

Free dumping here. And yes, a ton is a "normal" day. I think the most I've had was about 3600 pounds. Yeah, they weigh every single truck that goes in, no matter what they are hauling, and charge nothing.

And people wonder why I complain about the springs on my Dodge, lol! Getting 2 extra leafs added wednesday, plus a progressive overload spring. Tired of the sagging and dragging. Grass is a LOT heavier than people think!

[fshrdan]

I imagine you guys in KS and elsewhere up north mow bluegrass or fescue. The majority of our clipping in GA are Bermuda or Zoysia. These clippings are much lighter and fluffier than cool season grasses, probably only 50-75 lbs per 9.5 bushels.

When we price maintenance, we always build dump costs into the price, and if we can dump or compost on site in some discreet location, we offer a discount. That usually gives new customers some incentive to allow dumping on their property.

[Gaturf]

I imagine you guys in KS and elsewhere up north mow bluegrass or fescue. The majority of our clipping in GA are Bermuda or Zoysia. These clippings are much lighter and fluffier than cool season grasses, probably only 50-75 lbs per 9.5 bushels.

When we price maintenance, we always build dump costs into the price, and if we can dump or compost on site in some discreet location, we offer a discount. That usually gives new customers some incentive to allow dumping on their property.

Thanks for sticking up for me. I was beginning to think i was crazy for lifting a few bags of grass.

Now im going to bed because i have to get up early and go to the gym to work my biceps! All you dump truck driving landscapers take your pot shots at me while im asleep. Ill respond in the morning after my work out.

[Exact Rototilling]

$52 a ton to dump here - I'll be avoiding that like the plague. The time [long lines] & gas spent is a huge PITA here. If I do need to bag a clients grass their trash pick up day will be noted on the client card. So . . . they will not have nasty wet grass tea leaking out for long if it's bagged. If I can't dump directly in their 96 gallon barrel it will cost extra to haul off. Largely northern grasses here. Wet and heavy.

My plan is to get 2 additional 96 gallon residential trash containers at my house. It's an extra $14.50 a month over what I pay now. Grandpa's house will also have 2 extra 96 gallon trash containers at his house $17+ per month for that. That covers 384 gallons of grass every week or 1728 gallons of grass clippings a month for $32. Not a bad deal.

If I do need to haul off to the dump I will be using 6' x 6' burlap squares for clippings. Tie the 4 squares - put in truck or trailer - done. They will also let the much of the water evaporate from the clippings so you will avoid some of the soggy tea effect.

[Roger]

I Pay about $90 for 75 bags. These bags are made for walker mowers so there about 85 gallons (Dont quote me on that 85 gallons). ....

The first statement sent me on a wrong path to understand your operation. I took the "$90 for 75 bags" as the dumping fee. In other words, it cost you a bit over $1.00 per bag to dump, dumping 75 bags each time you dumped. In rereading your follow up posts, now I think this is the cost of the empty bag itself. Since you said $140 per year to dump, and $90 for 75 bags, I took this to mean that you dumped less that two times per year (e.g. $140/$90). That is why I thought you were hanging on to the bags for weeks at a time.

I guess some of us took the 85 gallons too literally. I know that handling full 39 gallon trash bags can be a challenge -- damp, sappy grass clippings. And, they aren't an easy "hold," that is, they are difficult to get a good grip.

It sounds like you have a good procedure that works for you. Great! Everybody settles on some schemes that seem to fit best for them, and that is why we see such a wide variety of choices. However, I always keep looking for a better way.

[Gaturf]

My method works great on a small scale. I wouldnt be able to this if i had to bag all 58 accounts. but for 4-5 accounts it works well for me. The total ESTIMATED cost to dump is around $230 per year(dump fees and bag cost). I pass this cost along to my customers.

thanks

gaturf

[Green Pastures]

Great....

Another decent thread got turned into a big fat pissing match.

;)


As far as handling grass, it sux no matter which way you look at it.

I've been using the big Walker bags talked about here in this thread and when full they are HEAVY. Two of my guy's could get them into a pickup truck bed but that's dangerous on the back. I drag mine into an enclosed trailer. I have filled them before when they were so heavy we had to dump some grass back out just to move them..... Not good.

I'm looking into this (http://www.debrissystems.com/trailer7.html) for handling my Walker accounts from now on. These trailers are expensive, but the labor reduction is massive and measurable.

[Gaturf]

maybe i need to video myself lifting a bag of grass?