[E-updates] Fall Compost Give-Away Helps Lawrence Gardeners Improve their soi l

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

City of Lawrence, Kansas

Waste Reduction and Recycling Division

 

October 11, 2005

 

CONTACT:  Diana Sjogren, Waste Reduction and Recycling Specialist, 832-3030

 

Fall Compost Give-Away Helps Lawrence Gardeners Improve their soil

 

(Lawrence, Kansas) - The City of Lawrence Solid Waste Division has scheduled a FALL Compost Giveaway for Lawrence residents:

Thursday, October 13 (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.);

Friday, October 14 (8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.), and 

Saturday October 15 (8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.).  

 

The Compost giveaway will take place at the city's Wood Recovery and Composting Facility, located at 1420 E. 11th St. (east of 11th and Haskell, over the railroad tracks).  There is no charge for the compost and citizens may either load their own material or have it loaded by tractor into pickups and small trailers.  This compost is not intended for commercial applications (profit or resale), but rather for the citizens of Lawrence.  Dump truck quantities are not allowed.

 

What is Compost?

Compost is a dark, crumbly, sweet smelling material, similar in appearance to the top layer of high quality soil.  It is made of organic materials that have been broken down into a stable form by the action of microorganisms.  Lawrence community compost is made from the weekly collection of residential yard trimmings, which includes grass, leaves, garden weeds and prunings, and small woody waste.  The materials are collected curbside from Lawrence households each Monday during the growing season and trucked directly to the City's Wood Recovery and Composting Facility.  Once delivered to the facility, the organic materials are emptied from the trucks and loaded into a large tub grinder, which chops the materials into small pieces.  The ground materials are then placed into large windrows which are turned intermittently to achieve the optimum conditions for decomposition of the raw materials.  On a quarterly basis, compost samples are tested for levels of the herbicide ingredient Clopyralid (pronounced clo-PEER-a-lid).  The compost that will be given away has passed both chemical and biological tests for Clopyralid, ensuring safe home lawn and garden use.

 

Benefits of Compost.

Compost is the ideal material for improving lawn and garden soils.  It adds nutrients, organic matter, and builds soil structure.  Incorporate compost into garden and potting soils, or use it as a mulch or top dressing for lawns, flower beds or vegetable gardens.  Organic compost loosens soil for better root penetration, improves soil capacity to hold water, resists erosion, and adds essential nutrients to the soil.

 

For further information please contact the Waste Reduction and Recycling Division at 832-3030 or visit www.LawrenceRecycles.org <http://www.lawrencerecycles.org/>  

 

 

 

_____________________________

Lisa K. Patterson

Communications Manager

City of Lawrence

PO Box 708

Lawrence, KS 66044

(785) 832-3406

fax (785) 832-3405

lpatterson at ci.lawrence.ks.us

http://www.lawrenceks.org

 

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