International Compost Awareness Week is May 2 through 8. The Food Waste Reduction and Composting Working Group of the Greater Quabbin Food Alliance is offering three free composting webinars in May. The topics of the webinars will be Home Composting (May 3 at 7 p.m.), Indoor Worm Composting (May 10 at 7 p.m.), and Business Composting (May 18 at 2:30 p.m.). Each webinar will last about an hour, with plenty of time after the presentations for questions, answers and discussion.
Monday, May 3 at 7 p.m.: Looking forward to the gardening season? Want to make your own compost instead of buying bags of soil?
Learn how to reduce household trash and improve garden soil health by composting food and yard waste.
Tune in to this free, fun webinar that will provide tips, how-to’s and local resources to start or improve your own composting system in Central and Western Massachusetts, followed by a question-and-answer session with local composting experts. Register in advance for the webinar at bit.ly/3u9ygMb. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Monday, May 10 at 7 p.m.: Learn how to compost indoors year-round with red wiggler worms.
Amy Donovan of Franklin County Solid Waste District will show how to make a simple, low-cost vermicomposting bin, where to get the right type of worms, which food wastes are appropriate and how to harvest and use the finished compost. Learn how to reduce trash from a household, classroom, or office. Donovan will share tried and true techniques to get the best results, with no odors. The finished worm castings are a nutrient-rich soil additive, some of the best compost on earth. Register in advance for the webinar at: bit.ly/3aRr7bT. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Tuesday, May 18 at 2:30 p.m.: Did you know? According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 40 percent of food produced in the United States goes uneaten. Come learn what you can do at your business to make a difference.
Businesses, restaurants and event planners all over the country are discovering that recycling and composting can be easier than they thought and can cost the same — if not less — than throwing it all in the trash. Learn how to potentially save operational costs and impress your customers by minimizing your food waste and lowering your carbon footprint.
This event is ideal for your business, restaurant, community agency, faith-based organization, food processing facility or residential facility.
Local solid waste experts will share free resources, local success stories, achievable ideas and tips and tricks for getting started or taking the next steps in your composting and recycling efforts. We will cover topics relevant to reducing food waste from your regular business operations or events — for everything from food service businesses and retail operations to restaurants, office lunchrooms, catered meetings and event venues. Register in advance for the webinar at: /bit.ly/2Sg9iNg. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.