Washtenaw County/Ann Arbor Master Composter
March 20, 2012 — Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution last night in support of the existing 1990 legislative ban on sending yard wastes to state landfills. This resolution is offered in response to bills passed last week in the state House of Representatives (HB 4265 and HB 4266 ) that would modify the ban on landfilling yard wastes. Ann Arbor’s resolution states that composting offers an environmentally sound, cost-effective, and decentralized method for managing yard clippings and other organic wastes, without the long-term impacts of landfill disposal. Michigan’s compost industry provides sustainable jobs and produces a valuable soil amending end-product used by farmers, landscapers, governments, and residents. In contrast, diverting yard waste to landfills to extract methane gas for fuel in inefficent and irresponsible release of methane gas. Press release is attached (pdf).
Class description - Next Class will be Offered Fall 2012
The typical American household throws away over 5 pounds of compostable garbage daily! Take that garbage and turn it in to something you can use to enrich your flowers, vegetables, and lawn. Discover the basics of home composting in this fun class taught by Master Composters eager to share their experience with you. After attending this course, passing the open book exam, and clocking 10 hours of hands-on community experience, you will become a certified Washtenaw County Master Composter. Fee includes the Michigan Master Composting Manual.
The next Washtenaw County Master Composter class is tenatively scheduled to be held fall 2012 through the Ann Arbor Public Schools Rec and Ed program. How to sign up: This Washtenaw County Master Composter class is offered through the Ann Arbor Public Schools Rec & Ed program. Class registration will be available online starting in late summer at http://reced.aaps.k12.mi.us
6 weeks. 10/2/12-11/13/12 (no class on November 6 Election Day) FEE: $49
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM at Pioneer High School. One class will be held at the City of Ann Arbor’s Municipal Compost Center. General information posted at www.a2gov.org/compost, Master Composter link. The schedule posted below may be slightly adjusted, pending availability of outside presenters.
10/2 Class overview, Composting basics, types of bins (Nancy Stone)
10/9 Soils (presenter TBD)
10/16 Tour of municipal composting operations, commercial bin exhibit at 4150 Platt Road. Distribute/discuss open book exam (Nancy Stone)
10/23 Yard waste reduction, mulching, trench/pit composting (Chris Simmons)
10/30 Worm bins, special composting, compost teas (Jessie Raudenbush of Starr Valley Farms)
11/6 No Class-Election Day
11/13 Guest presenters with community composting opportunities, Take-Home Exam corrected in-class; share ideas for volunteer projects, set date and topic/speaker for fall graduation pizza dinner (Lisa Perschke)
General Announcements