LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Lexington’s new Home Compost Program encourages people to throw away less food and yard waste, ultimately decreasing the amount that goes to the city’s landfills. It launched earlier this year and had significant community support.

Composting is the natural breakdown of organic material into fertilizer, and thanks to the program, 95 households in Lexington are better equipped to compost at home and even more people have expressed their interest in it.

Workshops happened earlier this year and filled up quickly. City leaders plan to continue their partnership with Seedleef and host several more workshops next year for another hundred homes. The local nonprofit teaches people which type of compost works best for their place.

The program’s participants could either get a free worm composter or a different unit for a discounted rate with a voucher, both provided by the city. Worm composters are good for those with limited outdoor space, but the majority of people paid for a tumbling bin. It’s ideal for gardeners who want to compost fast and reduce their carbon footprint as much as possible. The second favorite choice was a stationary composter, which holds a lot of waste.

City leaders said the toughest part was to secure enough units at local businesses for everyone. They ended up buying in bulk and creating a pickup system. They say this method was too time-consuming and are now brainstorming new ways to simplify the process next year. One possible option is forming an online partnership with a vendor who will sell directly to participants using the city’s voucher.

Anyone that uses the city’s curbside trash service qualifies for the Home Compost Program. If you want to learn how to properly compost, the city will release an interest form in early January.

The more homes that compost, the better it is for our environment. Composting decreases the amount of organic material that ends up in local landfills. In turn, it reduces methane, a greenhouse gas 86 times more potent than carbon dioxide, that traps heat in the atmosphere.

Lexington has bins for the community to dispose of branches, plant clippings, leaves, and grass. The yard waste is brought from landfills and turned into mulch at the Haley Pike Waste Management Facility. However, the mulch piles don’t get hot enough to break down food scraps, so people can’t get rid of them the same way. That’s why city leaders recommend a home composting system.

It not only helps our environment but also your wallet. Gardeners often call the finished product, “black gold.” It’s nutrient-rich soil that’s great for growing healthy plants, saving you money because you don’t have to buy soil at the store.

For more information visit the city of Lexington’s website: Composting vs. yard waste | City of Lexington (lexingtonky.gov)