The City is now offering residents the opportunity to buy finished compost and evergreen mulch at the Waste Management Facility.

“By diverting yard waste and evergreen branches to create finished compost and evergreen mulch, the City was able to divert 4,400 tonnes of material from being landfilled last year,” said Mary Curtis, waste management technical specialist.

“The selling of these two products provides an opportunity for residents to close the recycling loop, since their waste product has been recycled into a usable product that residents can benefit from.”

Finished compost will be sold for $15 per cubic yard. Residents can also bag their own compost at $3 per bag.

Bags are provided at the scale house. The evergreen mulch is about $7 per cubic yard. The compost and mulch is only available to Red Deer residents.

“We also encourage residents to bring a tarp for their pickup to secure the finished compost and evergreen mulch, preventing them from littering the roadway as they drive from the facility,” said Curtis.

Finished compost and evergreen mulch are great for yards and water conservation. Finished compost paired with soil can reduce water consumption and it provides a variety of nutrients that help plants grow. Evergreen mulch controls weed growth when used around trees and shrubs or along pathways, and reduces the amount of water lost through evaporation and run off.

Beginning May 1, the finished compost and evergreen mulch will be sold at the landfill from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday

For more information about the City’s diversion programs and finished products created from the diversion programs visit www.reddeer.ca/envservices or call 403-340-BLUE (2583).

-Weber