Dutchess County to Host Free Home Composting Workshops

Public events set for April, July & September at venues throughout County

 Dutchess County continues to recognize Earth Month and encourage residents to take meaningful steps to protect the environment for future generations. To help achieve that goal, the County’s Division of Solid Waste Management, in collaboration with Dutchess County Cornell Cooperative Extension, will host a series of free Home Composting Workshops to help residents learn how to effectively manage organic waste and create nutrient-rich compost for their gardens. The first workshop, scheduled for April 29 in the Town of Stanford, is one of several environmentally friendly events the County is hosting throughout the month, including its annual Earth Day Event and highway cleanups, among other efforts.

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “Composting is a simple step residents can take to make a larger, collective positive impact on our environment. Dutchess County is proud to offer these workshops to explain just how easy home composting can be. We encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to help protect our environment for future generations.”

Composting experts will lead these educational workshops and cover best practices for setting up and maintaining a successful composting system right in residents’ backyards. Residents will gain valuable insights into reducing household waste while contributing to a more sustainable environment.

The workshops will be held at 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• Tuesday, April 29^th
  Stanford Town Hall
  26 Town Hall Road, Stanfordville

• Tuesday, July 29^th
  Dutchess County Farm & Home Center
  2715 Route 44, Millbrook

• Tuesday, Sept. 30^th
  Boardman Road Branch Library
  141 Boardman Road, Poughkeepsie

These workshops are free and open to the public. For more information, please email solidwastemgmt@dutchessny.gov or call (845) 463-6020.

Kerry Russell, Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Solid Waste Management, said, “With these workshops we want to take the mystery out of composting and show residents just how simple it can be. As a product of composting, you reduce waste, recycle organic material, reduce greenhouse gas, and enrich the soil. We invite you to learn just how easy and beneficial it can be at our workshop nearest you.”

For residents interested in backyard composting, the Division of Solid Waste Management continues to offer backyard compost bins for purchase at reduced cost to residents. More information about purchasing a backyard compost bin is available online.

The Division of Solid Waste Management works to promote waste reduction, recycling, and responsible disposal practices in Dutchess County. Through educational initiatives and community programs, the division aims to create a cleaner and more sustainable environment for all residents. More information is available on theDivision of Solid Waste Management’s webpage.