Backyard Composting
Westmoreland Cleanways has been teaching our county residents about the importance of composting for more than a decade. Our compost demonstration site, maintained by Penn State Master Gardeners, is located at the Donohoe Center for Conservation Education on Donohoe Road in Greensburg. For the past decade, thanks to grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Westmoreland Cleanways has distributed more than 5,000 compost bins to county residents. Funding for that program has been depleted, so free bins will no longer be available during our Backyard Composting Workshops.
However, we will continue to offer Backyard Composting Workshops, conducted by Penn State Master Gardeners, during the spring and fall. Pre-registration is required for each program. Registration deadline is one week prior to the scheduled program, and a minimum of five people must be registered in order to conduct the program. Registrants will be notified in the event of a program cancellation. Click here to learn about this year's events.
Attendees will learn how to compost yard waste and what kitchen wastes are safe to compost. They will receive literature covering composting techniques and how to construct a compost bin out of readily available materials. Classes this year will be held at the Westmoreland Conservation District Barn in Greensburg, Oak Hollow Park in North Huntingdon, Valley Landfill in Penn Township, and the Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at St. Vincent College. The cost of the workshop is $10 per person, payable at the door.
"Westmoreland Cleanways Guide To Home Composting" teaches the basics of composting, how to compost, how to make different types of compost bins, and troubleshooting tips. Click here to read our Composting Guide.
For more information or to register for one of our scheduled workshops, you may call us at (724) 836-4129, or email Michelle at mkeenan@westmorelandcleanways.org.
