City to Offer Home Composting Classes

Staff Report

The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management invites the public to join its first Home Composting Workshop on Aug. 19.

Composting involves recycling resources of decomposed organic material. The practice of composting helps divert organic materials from waterways and reduces carbon footprint by lowering methane emission in landfills. This process helps to ensure that leaves and yard clippings do not accumulate in storm drains.

The workshops provide educational instruction and a hands-on demonstration on composting barrels. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how composting reduces waste disposal costs. The workshops will urge residents to recycle their yard clippings and leaves as fall approaches.

“I’ve been composting leaves and yard waste in my backyard for years,” says Susan Rutherford, planning division manager for Watershed Management. “Composting has a ton of benefits. It maintains the natural cycle of replenishing nutrients to your soil; it keeps leaves from clogging our streets and storm drains; and best of all: no leaf bags to buy or fill!”

Items that can be composted include: yard clippings, hay, straw, coffee grounds, filters, shredded papers, eggshells and food wastes, excluding meats. Minerals and nutrients are provided through decomposition; this turns composted materials into soil for garden use as it reduces the amount of chemical fertilizers consumed.

A second workshop will be held Sept. 23. All workshop sessions will be held from 2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Water Works Lodge located on 655 Green Street, NW. The registration cost is $40 per person and covers all materials needed to create the composting barrels.

Due to limited space, interested residents are encouraged to register to reserve a place in the workshop. To register or place your barrel order, please contact Danita Ogandaga at 404-546-3217 or email at[email protected].

Composting Workshops

August 19 and September 23

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Water Works Lodge

655 Green Street NW

Atlanta, GA 30318