Registration is open for the Fall Master Composter Program, with class sessions beginning Monday, Oct. 15 at the San Marcos Discovery Center, 430 Riverside Drive and continuing throughout the month.
The City of San Marcos and Bobcat Blend, a student-run composting organizations at Texas State University, have teamed up for the Master Compost Certification Program to educate and promote composting. The program is administered by the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (S.T.A.R).
“An estimated 20-30 percent of residential trash waste can be diverted from the landfill and composted,” said Amy Kirwin, Community Enhancement Initiatives Manager. “Composted material helps with plant nutrition, soil life and soil structure—an overall benefit for a healthy lawn and garden with minimal negative impacts to the environment.”
What is composting?
Composting results in humus-rich material that has a unique ability to improve the chemical balance, texture and biological characteristics of soils. Without composting, garbage thrown into landfills will increase and chemical pesticides will be active in our gardens to kill plants and microorganisms. Composting promotes plant growth with the help of bacteria, insects and worms.
What CAN be composted?
Fruits, vegetables, egg shells, soiled paper
What CAN NOT be composted?
Dairy, meats, breads, fats and oils, plastic, metal or glass
Program expectations:
$20 for textbook
20 hours of total classroom time
20 hours of volunteering within 12 months of classroom completion
Classroom Dates and Times:
Oct. 15, 17, 22 and 24 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Oct. 20, 27 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location:
San Marcos Discovery Center
430 Riverside Dr. (IH-35 and Riverside Dr.)
Residents interested in signing up, or wanting more information for the Master Composter Certification should contact Resource Recovery at 512.393.8419 or akirwin@sanmarcostx.gov.