A staggering one third of the food waste in the Carroll area is ending up in our landfill, and the Carroll County Solid Waste Management Commission (CCSWMC) wants to see something done about that. Director, Mary Wittry, says in 2008, they became one of 14 planning areas who are part of the Environmental Management System (EMS), a voluntary program that establishes continuous improvement in six areas.
Because of the large amount of organic waste, they brainstormed on ways to educate for reductions and management of what is produced. They applied for a pilot grant with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to establish a composting workshop. Wittry explains.
At that point, the nutrient rich product can be used on lawns and in gardens and flower pots. Education Coordinator, Karen Monical, says this is really about taking food waste out of the landfill and creating a sustainable resource.
Wittry adds they will also discuss options on waste reduction. She says people can learn how to shop smart, use leftovers, freeze or can foods and make sauces or donate. Wittry also says that although some people find composting may create an unpleasant odor, one of the things attendees will learn is that this does not need to be the case.
The first two workshops on Thursday, Sept. 26 will be learning sessions for employees of the commission as well, and the entire group will track their activities for the next roughly six months. Monical adds the people who sign up for the first workshops will receive materials to take home.
The workshops are free, but class size is limited and registration is going to close soon, at the end of the day on Friday, Sept. 20, for both sessions—from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Registrations can be completed at the recycling center or online by following the link included below. After the recent rains, there has also been a CHANGE OF LOCATION and both classes will be held at the Carroll County Recycling Center at Kittyhawk Avenue on West U.S. Highway 30.
http://www.carrollcountylandfill.com/pdf/CompostingWorkshopFlyer-v3.pdf
