People using a discounted composting bin
Composting your kitchen scraps and yard waste at home can help divert material from your local landfill, and provide a good quality product for use in your yard and garden. Home composting is both fun and easy to do, and does not require large investments of time, money and effort to be successful.
One approach to composting is to simply maintain a pile in an out-of-the-way part of your yard. However, many people prefer to enclose the material in a container. The County of Santa Barbara Public Works Department offers Earth Machine composting bins at a great sale price of $40.00 each (price includes tax), which is over 50 percent less than the retail price. Learn more about the compost bin sale.
Other commercial composting bins are generally available at local nurseries, feed stores, garden and home improvement supply stores. Cost varies from $25.00 on up to $300.00 or more, depending upon the model, though most sell in the $50.00 - $125.00 range. It is also possible to construct a compost enclosure from a variety of materials, directions are in the booklet below.
If you live in an apartment or condominium and would like to compost your kitchen scraps, you might consider vermicomposting. Vermicomposting uses red worms in a small container to convert your fruit and vegetable peelings into a nitrogen rich compost product that is perfect for house plants and planter-boxes.
The County of Santa Barbara offers residents written information on how to compost at home through the booklet entitled, The Answer is Backyard Composting and Yard Waste Reduction. View the booklet online by clicking the link below. If you must print out the booklet or any section of it, see the link "Download Printable Version" below.
Please only print any of the sections if you need to. Print on both sides if your printer can to save paper. Also, if you are interested in an official print copy of the booklet, you can contact Jeff Simeon by emailing to jsimeon(at)cosbpw.net.
The County also periodically conducts workshops on home composting and sponsors parking lot sales of composting bins that are sold to residents at a reduced rate. For more information, please call the County composting specialist at (805) 882-3618 or send an e-mail message to jsimeon(at)cosbpw.net. For information on our Mulch and Green Waste Program, please click here: mulch&green_waste.html
Residents also have access to mulch produced from the green and wood waste processed by the County. Free mulch is available for pickup at both the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station and the Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station. If a resident wants mulch to be delivered, there is a charge depending on the volume requested. For more information, please call (805) 681-4981.
Composting workshops are offered throughout the year. If you have questions email jsimeon(at)cosbpw.net or Call (805) 882-3618 to learn more.
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Last updated: July 1, 2009
