One of the simplest ways to save time and money while also helping the environment is to compost kitchen waste, grass clippings, uncoated paper, dried leaves and other organic materials in your own backyard. Home composting is easy and odor-free, and now is a great time to give it a try, because from May 1st – 18th, you can purchase compost bins for only $37.10 (tax included) at Vermont Green Grocer. The bins, procured at low cost by Chittenden Solid Waste District, regularly retail for $100.

The SoilSaver bins measure 28” square by 30” tall and weigh 30 lbs. They are passive composters –you don’t need to turn them, though occasional stirring is helpful. SoilSaver bins have large, locking lids and two sliding doors at the bottom that make loading and unloading fast and easy. Composters come with an instruction booklet. See SoilSavers online for more info.

Backyard composting isn’t just for gardeners looking for free fertilizer. Anyone wanting to reduce their garbage pick-up costs while helping the environment should consider composting. If your kitchen waste now goes into a disposer, composting could help extend the life of your septic system – or, in Richmond Village, reduce the load on the waste treatment plant.

Chittenden Solid Waste District is bringing the low-cost bins to Richmond as an experimental project to increase composting in rural areas. At CSWD’s office, the bins are available to all County residents year round at the same low price. CSWD encourages composting because nearly 30 percent of what’s currently dumped in landfills could be composted in backyards instead. This would significantly reduce the demand for landfill space, save County taxpayers money, and turn that portion of the waste stream into an asset—usable garden compost.

The Richmond Climate Action Committee is cosponsoring the project because reducing the volume of transported solid waste by 30 percent would also reduce transportation fuel use, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, as RCAC member Lisa Condon puts it, “Backyard composting promotes an awareness of our role in a larger natural system, helping us be more mindful of what we use and leave behind.”

Vermont Green Grocer will not make any profit off the compost bins, but is distributing them because facilitating home composting falls in line with the store’s mission of helping community members live more sustainably.

"Once you take that first small step in changing your habits by composting your food waste, it is amazing to see how big an impact that can have in decreasing your trash and creating nutrients for the soil,” says Kris Miceli, owner of the Green Grocer. “As a store, we have made many significant changes, including both onsite and offsite composting of all food scraps and food waste.”

As part of that sustainability mission, Vermont Green Grocer has also made the bold decision to cease providing disposable grocery bags to customers. Starting April 30th, customers will be given the option of taking a reusable tote bag for a $1 deposit or bringing their own bags. Vermont Green Grocer is the only grocery store in the area at which disposable bags will no longer be an option.

Composting accessories such as aerator sticks and kitchen compost pails will also be available for purchase at Vermont Green Grocer during the sale, courtesy of Gardeners Supply Company.

Vermont Green Grocer is located at 71 Huntington Road, close to the Old Round Church. Store hours are Monday through Friday 9-7; Saturday 9-6, and Sunday 10-6. Payment for the bins should be made in cash or by check made out to “Chittenden Solid Waste District.” For more information, call RCAC member Lauren Esserman at 434-5453 or Vermont Green Grocer at 434-4115.