October 24, 2010 - Leaf Litter
Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

Litter is bad for the environment unless it is leaf litter. Trees and other forest plants begin and end their lives in leaf litter. Shed leaves begin to break down quickly. With the help of insects and microscopic fungi leaves are turned into organic matter. This natural recycling system provides nutrients for seeds to germinate, take root and grow. Eventually trees and other plants die, joining the leaf litter to enrich the soil and become part of the natural community once more as new plants grow. Unfortunately, we short-circuit this recycling by raking perfectly good leaves into plastic bags and sending them to the landfill. Or we pile up the leaves and burn them, releasing carbon dioxide and particulates into the air. Instead, why not become a litterbug and dump those leaves where they can break down naturally?

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.