City encourages composting

CARLSBAD — Carlsbad will offer compost and worm bins at a reduced cost for residents. The bins are made possible through a contract between the city and the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation at 137 N. El Camino Real.
Residents may choose from a stackable compost bin, which allows for easy compost turning and harvesting, or a worm composting bin also know as a vermicomposting bin. The stackable bin, which retails for $129, will be sold to residents for $50 and is 28-inches-by-28-inches-by-34-inches. The worm composting bin, which retails for $110, will be sold for $40 and is 16 inches-by-23-inches-by-25 inches. The bins are funded out of the city’s solid waste fund, money that is set aside to help reduce the amount of trash that goes into landfills.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, yard trimmings and food scraps constitute 24 percent of the waste sent to landfills. Composting is a natural process that turns biodegradable material, such as food scraps and paper, into nutrient-rich, organic soil. Composting happens naturally in the environment, and can be sped up by using specially designed bins, such as the ones offered by the city of Carlsbad program. Composting can be done indoors or outside.
Compost bin supplies are limited. The bins will be available until supplies run out. Residents interested in purchasing a bin can call the Solana Center’s ROTline at (760) 436-7986, ext. 222, or by e-mail at [email protected].
The Solana Center is open for bin sales on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Proof of residency is required in the form of a picture ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, as well as a current utility bill.