CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- When leaves inevitably drop to the ground each fall, they start a natural process of transformation into a dark, rich material called compost.
You can help the process! Mecklenburg County's Solid Waste Services is promoting composting as an organic gardening practice by offering discounted compost bins in a one-time sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at the Hal Marshall Services Center, 700 N. Tryon St., Charlotte.
Take your pick between a 12-cubic-foot bin for $45 and a 15-cubic-foot bin for $55. Bins are provided at a significant discount by Covered Bridge Organic Inc. (www.cboinc.com).
Did you know that up to 50 percent of household waste can be composted? Leaves, grass clippings, twigs and a variety of kitchen scraps combine over time to create a nutrient-rich, organic fertilizer. Composting reduces waste by keeping organic material out of landfills, and it can eliminate reliance on chemicals in backyard gardening.
Learn more about how to start and maintain a compost bin from Mecklenburg County's experts, who will be selling the bins at Saturday's event, or at one of the County’s remaining four-hour basic classes this season. The Piedmont Landscaping and Naturescaping Training program (P.L.A.N.T.) is offering two more classes before the end of the year:
- Nov. 21, 2009 at Steele Creek Library, 13620 Steele Creek Road, (704) 416-6800
- Dec. 5, 2009 at McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road, (704) 588-5224
The class costs $10. Please RSVP by calling the location of the individual class.
For more information on composting, organic gardening and other waste-reduction techniques, visit Solid Waste Services’ Web site at www.wipeoutwaste.com.
