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Composting Composting is a process that allows organic materials such as yard waste and fruit and vegetable scraps to be broken down naturally and converted into a valuable soil additive. By setting up a home composting system, you can reduce the amount of trash your household sends to incinerators or landfills while producing a fertilizer for house or garden plants. Eureka Recycling offers fact sheets and workshops to help you set up a home composting system. There are two composting options to choose from: backyard composting and worm composting 2008 Backyard Composting Workshops Did you know a typical household in the Twin Cities area throws away about 10 pounds of compostable material every day? Come learn about the environmental benefits of composting and how you can easily reduce waste at home! This workshop has tips for maintaining a healthy compost pile no matter what type of composter you are. Tuesday, July 8 - 6:30 p.m. Edgcumbe Recreation Center Saturday, July 19 - 1:00 p.m. Merriam Park Library Thursday, July 24 - 6:30 p.m. Edgcumbe Recreation Center Wednesday, July 30 - 6:30 p.m. Merriam Park Library Saturday, August 9 - 1:00 p.m. Merriam Park Library *Additional workshops will be added throughout 2008, so check back for more options or call our hotline. Registration Required: Please call Eureka Recycling at (651) 222-7678 to register or inquire about additional workshop dates. Workshop cost: $5 (a limited number of scholarships are available. Please call for details). Workshop participants will be eligible to purchase a backyard compost bin for 45$. Backyard composting is easy! A few inexpensive supplies are all you need to set up a compost pile in your own backyard. A backyard compost bin provides a convenient place to get rid of weeds, leaves and other yard waste, as well as organic kitchen scraps. Our backyard composting fact sheet explains how and why to compost, including the different types of bins you can use, how to maintain your compost pile, and how to use the finished compost to benefit your garden. Getting a Backyard Compost Bins If you are ready to get started on backyard composting and need a bin, here are you options: Option 1: Attend a Backyard Composting Workshop. Supplies are available along with some information to help you successfully get your bin started. Workshops cost $5.00 and a bin can be purchased and picked-up at the workshop for $45.00. Option 2: Build your own backyard composting bin. Compost Bins are generally very simply to construct. Information on how to build one can be found in the attached Backyard Composting Fact-Sheet or at http://www.reduce.org/ Option 3: Join Eureka Recycling’s bulk purchase of backyard compost bins! (For a limited time—ACT NOW!) Eureka Recycling is placing one large compost bin order to give you a better price. To purchase contact the Recycling Hotline at 651-222-SORT (7678). We will add your name to the list of participants and when that list reaches 100 bins we will place the order. Manufactured by Norseman, The Earth Machine specifications can be found here. The cost for these bins will be $55.00. Option 4: Purchase a bin from a local retailer. There are several different styles and brands of backyard composting bins available on the market. An updated list of local retailers that sell backyard composting bins can be found on our website at: Click here to find out where you can purchase a compost bin in the twin cities area. Worm Composting Worm composting, also known as vermiculture composting, allows you to compost kitchen scraps even if you don't have space for a backyard compost bin. With an indoor worm bin, you can turn your kitchen scraps into a potent natural fertilizer all year long. Our worm composting fact sheet (PDF) explains how to set up a worm composting bin, what you can feed your worms, and how to maintain a healthy worm bin. For more information on worm composting, or to order worm composting supplies, visit WormWoman.com. How does composting make a difference? By composting, you create much less garbage that needs to be burned in an incinerator or buried in a landfill. In an incinerator, kitchen scraps and plant material create pollution and are not a good source of energy because they are wet and do not burn well (they lower the BTUs generated). In a landfill, these materials create methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting turns these materials into nutrient-rich fertilizer for your gardens and potted plants. There will be more moisture available in your soil, your plants will grow better and you will reduce or eliminate the need for commercial fertilizers, many of which are petroleum-based. When you compost at home carbon is "sequestered" in the soil for the long-term, lowering carbon emissions and reducing the size of your carbon "footprint." What to do if you don't compost at home Ramsey County Compost Sites accept soft-bodied yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings and weeds. For hours and locations, see the Ramsey County Compost Sites flyer (PDF), visit Ramsey County Environmental Health, or call (651) 633-EASY (3279) to talk to one of our information specialists. For brush disposal, see the Yard Waste section of our A-Z Recycling & Safe Disposal Guide.
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