It's still a step forward for sequestering carbon! If you and/or your family have allergies or health concerns, it may be worth having a sit-down with your neighbors to explain the effect their choices have on your medical bills, now and in the future.

Conversation has worked with some neighbors and not others. Fact is that pesticides are poison for everyone, whether a person has any special health concerns or not. Lawn pesticides for aesthetic lawns are poisoning our air, soil, water, and beneficial insects, not to mention pets who walk on it, then lick their paws or fur (ask any veterinarian), and kids who unknowingly run through it and bring it into their homes on their shoes (as adults also do). A helpful thing in my family’s lives is that we’ve called all the lawn care companies and asked them for courtesy calls the day before they plan on spraying liquid pesticides or spreading dusty granular pesticides, so that we can at least make sure our windows are closed and outdoor toys are picked up. Their customers get this courtesy, but sadly, even if you live right next door, they don’t notify you unless you ask. Good point that composting would still be a positive step, but I wouldn’t want to use any of it on a garden for food since it’s been exposed to unknown pesticides. And, we always wait at least a week and until after a soaking rain to rake any leaves from our yard, to limit our exposure. Many lawn pesticides are now touted as remaining active for many weeks, even months, which equates to them not readily breaking down...means they stay toxic in the soil, on the grass, on grass clippings, on leaves, etc. It’s very sad, the chemical companies are making so much money on the peddled “need” for a perfect lawn trumping people’s health. Pesticides should be the exception, not the rule. So, yes, composting, but awareness.