WHAT: The Solid Waste Department sites are temporarily out of mulch, due to high demand by Laredo citizens

WHEN & March 14, 2005

WHERE: Mulch is available all year round at the following locations: Behind the Laredo Public Library or at 618 Del Mar Blvd.

WHY: The City of Laredo provides citizens with free mulch, made from the yard waste, made up of grass clippings, green leaves, brown leaves and wood chips, collected by the Solid Waste Department. Residents have been taking advantage of this service and have been picking up mulch yard waste and spreading it in their gardens. There is always mulch available, but this year, the demand for mulch was higher than expected and the sites ran out. Currently, there is a designated area inside the City of Laredo Landfill where people can dispose of the branches that will be mulched.

“This is great news,” said Willie Bote, the environmentally friendly trashcan mascot for the Solid Waste Department. “This means that residents are taking advantage of the benefits that mulch does for their gardens,” he added.

“Mulch keeps soil loose and moist, smothers weeds, prevents soil erosion, and releases nutrients as the material decomposes. Also, it an easy way to put nature’s recycling system to work, instead of depending on manufactured fertilizers,” concluded, Sylvia Garza, Recycling Coordinator for the City of Laredo.

For more information, please contact the Solid Waste Department at (956) 795-2510.