NO GARBAGE OR RECYCLING COLLECTION ON MEMORIAL DAY ~ MONDAY, MAY 29, 2023
Residential garbage and recycling collection will be as follows:
- Monday’s collection will be collected on Tuesday, May 30th
- Tuesday’s collection will be collected on Wednesday, May 31st
- Wednesday’s yard waste will be collected on Thursday, June 1st
- Thursday’s collection will be collected on Friday, June 2nd
- Friday’s collection will be collected on Saturday, June 3rd
Note: Residents of Trailer Estates, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, or Anna Maria, check your waste hauler holiday schedule.
Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week from May 7th to May 13th ~ Below are some tips on how to do it at home.
Compost 101 at home
Choose Your Container
Garden centers sell a variety of containers for making compost. You can buy a sealed composting bin that has a little door in it for adding organic matter—or a composting barrel on a stand that allows you to tumble it.
Start Piling
Most compost is made up of organic materials like leaves, garden plants, newspaper, straw, grass clippings, manure, and kitchen scraps. Kitchen waste should include materials like vegetables and fruit peeling, eggshells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, etc. Remember that you need to add 3 parts carbon items to every one part of your nitrogen-heavy kitchen scraps. Carbon items include shredded paper (no plastic or shiny paper) or brown leaves. Meat, fat, and bone products should never be added to the compost pile, as they can introduce harmful parasites and attract animals.
Turn
One of the most important parts of learning how to start composting is committing to turn the pile every few weeks. This gives the compost pile needed oxygen to help break down its contents. You can do this with a shovel or get a bin that has built-in turning handles or features. Moreover, you can get your kids involved and add it to their weekly chores list so that they’ll develop a sense of responsibility for the garden.
Enjoy Your Compost!
After a while, you’ll begin to see your compost fully biodegrade into nutrient-rich soil. This soil, coined “garden gold” can be a great natural fertilizer for your plants. Compost can also build the foundation for a super healthy garden by reducing harmful pests. Moreover, learning how to compost teaches your family the value of reducing food waste.