I chopped all my stems into 1-4 inch pieces after i cherry pick and throw them away a little at a time, if i ever mowwed my back yard i would mix it in with the grass clippings and the city takes it all for free. I compost my leaves after letting them sweat for a week in garbage bags to get them all slimmy. i used to just take it all mixed with trash to the dump, but NEVER again, I didnt even throw 2 bags out the van before the dude who worked there was like "wheres the good stuff" followed by a " you gotta be careful dumping that stuff here", hahah dude had me figured out when i rolled up in a white cargo van