Milwaukee Department of Public Works to host 7th annual Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale

The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works is hosting its seventh annual Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale on May 19.

This year’s sale will offer bagged organic compost for the first time. Organic compost will come in 25-pound bags for $10 per bag. Bags of compost much be purchased with cash or a check. Those who plan on purchasing compost bins, rain barrels, organic compost and/or accessories must preorder the items online by May 5. The items can then be picked up on May 19. Visit Milwaukee.gov/CompostBinSale to place a preorder.

Earth Machine compost bins and SYSTERN rain barrels will be available for $50 and $65, a significant savings from retail prices of $100 and $120. For those who are looking to start composting for the first time, each bin comes with “kitchen pails” (compost bins used for kitchen scraps) with helpful beginner’s tips printed the side.

Composting and rain harvesting are both highly efficient ways to recycle. Composting helps enrich soil, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and encourages healthy decomposition that creates nutrient-filled materials. One inch of rainwater falling onto a 1,000 square-foot roof yields up to 600 gallons of water, which can then be used as an alternative to using the tap for watering the lawn or garden.

The sale will be open from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Estabrook Park parking lot, 4600 Estabrook Parkway. Visit MilwaukeeRecycles.com for more information, or call (414) 286-CITY (2489).