City of Asheville offers sale on compost bins May 8

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Press release here:

The City of Asheville is pleased to present a one-day-only backyard compost bin event.  The Earth Machine^TM Backyard Compost Bin will be available to area residents on a first come, first served basis.  This event will take place on Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the front parking lot at the Asheville Mall located at 3 South Tunnel Road. The bins’ retail price is $100; at this event, they will be available for only $35 tax included.

According to the EPA, landfills are the largest manmade source of methane gas emissions.  Methane emissions occur when organic waste is landfilled.  The decomposition under anaerobic conditions releases the powerful greenhouse gas which is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.  By using a composter, a single family household can divert approximately 600 pounds of waste from the landfill per year.

Homeowners can use compost bins to compost fruit, vegetable scraps, crushed eggshells, tea bags, coffee grounds and filters by adding in layers of mulched leaves, dried grass, garden plants, old potting soil and soft plant stems from the garden. The resulting compost can be used as a rich soil additive for lawns and gardens.  It improves soil water retention which means greener grass, healthier flowers and better fruits and vegetables.

Join the City for this one-day-only compost bin sale and help reduce curbside waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

For further information contact the City of Asheville at 251-1122 or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/sanitation.  This release may be found at http://ashevillenc.gov/news/news_releases/default.aspx?id=21916