Zoe Kirk, water conservation ambassador with the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, shows a rain barrel kit. (Keith Lacey photo)
Working with a series of business and municipal partners, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen invites residents to pre-purchase compost bins and attend free workshops on composting and rainwater harvesting across the RDOS.
Residents can pre-purchase compost bins or Green Cones from participating locations until March 23. Pre-purchased bins will then be available for collection by April 22, Earth Day.
In Penticton, residents can pre-purchase compost bins at Art Knapp’s Plantland and Florists, Canadian Tire Penticton, Giardino Penticton Nursery, RONA Penticton and Whole Foods Market.
The Summerland Municipal Hall, Oliver Landfill, Osoyoos Sonora Community Centre, Village of Keremeos Municipal Office and the Princeton Town Office are also set up to pre-sell compost bins.
Please note some smaller government offices involved in the sale may not be equipped to accept all credit or debit cards.
Residents are advised to call ahead for payment options if purchasing bins at local government sites.
This year, two different compost bins are on sale. The FreeGarden Earth Compost Bin will be sold for $44 plus taxes.
An attractively curved black container, the FreeGarden Earth Compost Bin helps break down garden waste, leaves, uncooked fruits and vegetables. It is a great system for creating valuable compost.
The Green Cone, capable of breaking down cooked food waste and meat, will be sold for $105.15 plus taxes.
This system is buried partially in the ground where it breaks down waste directly in the soil. Every few years the leftover sludge is removed and buried in a different section of your property.
The Green Cone is not used to break down yard waste so it is a great compliment to an existing compost bin.
To learn more about both units, everyone is invited to local, free composting workshops.
The Sonora Community Centre hosted workshops on rainwater collection using rain barrels and how each compost system works before purchasing a compost bin or, if they already have a bin, how to compost simply and easily, this past Saturday morning.
Zoe Kirk, RDOS water conservation ambassador, led the free workshops on rainwater harvesting using rain barrels.
When done correctly, rain barrels are a cheap and effective way to collect water, save money and divert water away from foundations, said Kirk.
Kirk led participants through the simple steps of thinking where to place bins, how to divert water from ease troughs and how to winterize.
Rain barrels will not be sold as part of this pre-sale, but Kirk is available to provide information on what to look for if buying or building a rain harvesting system.
For more information, contact the RDOS Solid Waste Division at 250-490-4129 or e-mail Kirk at [email protected].
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Osoyoos Times
