Yard Waste Alternative ways to recycle Put in Green Cart Compost Yard Waste Adding yard waste to a backyard compost pile diverts organic waste from ending up in a landfill. Find out more. Alternative Ways to Recycle Get a Mulcher, Shredder and Chipper If your household generates large volumes of yard waste, consider buying power tools to transform green waste into mulch: a mulcher, shredder and chipper can get the job done. Did You Know? The Perfect Compost Recipe Can I Make My Compost Pile Break Down Faster? Your compost pile breaks down faster if you mix together the right amounts of green and brown material. Your brown to green ratio is based off of your carbon to nitrogen ratio: 25-30 parts carbon to one part nitrogen is ideal. Keep in mind that food or yard waste all have different C:N ratios (shown here). Don’t get out your calculator for these ratios, instead just eyeball how much you put into the compost pile.