Disposing of Garlic Mustard and Other Invasive Plants

Many weeds, like garlic mustard, continue to develop seeds once they have been pulled from the ground. For plants like this, effective control means that you must remove the flowering plants from the site to keep the seed from spreading. Allowing the plants to dry out and burning them is an option in some rural areas, but landowners should be aware that there are frequently restrictions or permit requirements for open air burning. Burying the plants works, but is not feasible for most situations. Although backyard composting is normally the preferred method for dealing with most yard waste, backyard compost piles and bins do not reliably generate enough heat for a long enough period of time to destroy some weed seeds. The same problem may occur at many municipal or rural compost facilities, thereby spreading the weeds when the finished compost is utilized.

According to Cynthia Moore, DNR Recycling Team Leader, even though landfilling of yard waste is prohibited in Wisconsin, the DNR is using its enforcement discretion to allow invasive plants to be landfilled because that represents the best available option for disposing of them. WDNR does not recommend composting invasive plants and their seeds because of the likelihood that viable plants and seeds will be spread through the distribution of the finished compost. Only specially designed and carefully managed composting operations should accept invasive plants.

To ensure that the invasive weeds are destroyed and the seeds not redistributed, the Department of Natural Resources Endangered Resources Program and Waste Management Program are asking property owners to separate and bag any invasive plants in clear bags and label the bags "Invasive plants - approved by WI DNR for landfilling." Groups removing invasive weeds from public properties like parks should make arrangements with their local public works office for collection and disposal.

For More Information

Gretchen Wheat - (608) 267-0557 (recycling and landfilling)

Kelly Kearns (608) 267-5066 or Tom Boos (608) 266-9276 (invasive plants)