CANTON — Gardener Judy L. DeGraaff has wondered every spring and fall if something better might be done with the bags of leaves left on village curbs than burying them in a landfill.

"I know how useful compost is," she said. "It's a waste to just dump our leaves."

As Ms. DeGraaff was deciding finally to approach the village with her idea for a community compost pile, Superintendent Brien E. Hallahan was thinking along the same lines.

Twice a year, the village spends about a month picking up tree limbs, brush and bagged leaves. Much of the brush is chipped and some residents take it as mulch. However, the leaves are taken to the old town landfill or buried at Partridge Run & Country Club or at the Department of Public Works.

"It's a great service to the community but it's a nightmare getting rid of it," Mr. Hallahan said. "We don't have adequate land."

The village Board of Trustees had no ready answers when it discussed the idea Monday night, but agreed to investigate further. Trustees plan to talk with Cornell Cooperative Extension, St. Lawrence University and SUNY Canton, which might have land for the project and students interested in participating in it.

"I know St. Lawrence already composts some of their debris," Trustee Jesse C. Coburn said, pointing out the piles of manure and bedding from the university's horse stables are free for the taking.

Compost, a soil conditioner, is made over time by decomposition of yard and food waste.

"I don't pretend to be an expert in composting but I'm sure I could learn," Mr. Hallahan said.