City of Milwaukee Hosts Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale – June 7th
The City of Milwaukee will host a one-day-only, first-come first-served backyard compost bin and rain barrel sale on Saturday, June 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Washington Park parking lot at N. 40th St. and W. Galena St.
The City of Milwaukee will host a one-day-only, first-come first-served backyard compost bin and rain barrel sale on Saturday, June 7th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Washington Park parking lot at N. 40th St. and W. Galena St. A limited number of Earth Machine™ compost bins and SYSTERN rain barrels will be available for $45 and $55 respectively (including tax), offering significant savings from regular retail prices of $100 and $120, respectively. Cash, check and credit cards are all accepted. The event will take place rain or shine, and is not restricted to City of Milwaukee residents.
Past truckload sales events saw nearly 1,000 people purchasing 874 compost bins and 641 rain barrels.
“I want to encourage everyone to learn more about composting and rainwater harvesting,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “Composting helps reduce solid waste and saves the City of Milwaukee money by conserving landfill space and avoided disposal costs. Capturing rain water for re-use reduces your water bill and keeps storm water runoff out of our sewer systems.”
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), hundreds of thousands of tons of yard materials are managed through home composting and mulching in place. Still, there is a lot to do. About 25% of the materials that reach landfills each year are organic and could have been composted.
“Yard materials were banned from landfills in Wisconsin starting in 1993. Home composting is a great way to manage leaves, grass clippings, garden trimmings, your fruit and vegetable scraps and other organic materials,” said Rick Meyers, Resource Recovery Program Manager for the City of Milwaukee. “It also reduces methane production, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Managing organic waste at home through backyard composting is a convenient way to reduce trash volume as well as its odor, making it easier to manage. Finished compost provides a healthy soil amendment that can help reduce the need for fertilizer and watering.”
Rainwater harvesting is another great way to conserve resources and prevent pollution. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that a rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during peak summer months. Harvested rainwater may be put to good use around the home and garden in a variety of ways including watering houseplants, gardens and lawns. Rainwater harvesting also helps to reduce polluted runoff, improving the quality of our lakes, rivers and streams.
Are you a beginner composter? Not to worry – each compost bin comes with a “Home Composting Handbook.”
You may also visit dnr.wi.gov and search for “compost.”
For more information, visit www.MilwaukeeRecycles.com or call (414) 286-CITY (2489).
Flyer – 2014 Final Compost Bin & RB truckload sale
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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