Food scraps can be about 20% or more of the average household's waste. The best way to save money on trash fees is to compost this waste right at home. Composting is easy and can be set up with very little effort.

Food scraps contribute to global warming as they decompose in a landfill. Every ton of food waste kept out of the landfill through composting eliminates the release of about 6 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere!

Compost is a great soil amendment. It improves the structure and fertility of garden soil, adds nutrients and helps to prevent plant diseases. Once you build or buy a bin all you have to do is add food scraps and leaves, grass clippings, hay or other organics to make a great soil additive that you can use instead of chemical fertilizers.

Interested in learning more about the latest processes for producing compost, using compost and reducing greenhouse emissions? Learn how to build piles, improve soil, enhance plant resistance to disease and insects, produce worm compost, and more! Read more about this opportunity in this announcement: Vermont Master Composter Course offered this Fall.

Buy a compost bin at a reduced price! Compost Bins for residents of Arlington, Dorset, Rupert, Shaftsbury, and Sunderland.

Check out the great composting effort by the Sunderland Elementary School:

Click on the photos below to visit blogs and websites with information about how to build your own compost bin.